Research Project: Transport and spatial distribution of microplastics and byproducts, and associated risks to freshwater ecosystems.
Lead Supervisor: Professor Catherine Wilson
External Partner: Dwr Cymru, Welsh Water

Biofouling, the unintentional accumulation of sediments, chemicals, microbes and other organisms on submerged substrates, is exacerbated by the ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in freshwaters. The transportation of pristine and befouled MPs in water increases contamination and infection risk resulting in unexpected ecological consequences to aquatic and human health.

This interdisciplinary project will explore how aquatic microplastics and their byproducts are transported. The relationship of microplastics with farming activity, public sewerage network and wastewater treatment will be examined with specific emphasis on the effectiveness of constructed wetlands and reed beds to treat wastewater and MP. This will be achieved using Dwr Cymru’s existing network of online monitors in the Taff/Ely catchments and at a downstream constructed wetland treatment site which routinely measure pH, conductivity, DO, temperature, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate. These datasets will be augmented by spot-MP sampling at the same locations of MPs, metal and pathogen load to examine the dispersion and spread of pollutants and whether existing water monitoring can act as a proxy for other pollutants. In addition, pristine and bioaccumulated MP transport experiments will be conducted in the hydraulics laboratory at Cardiff University.