Researchers from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory have uncovered a possible link between sewage spills, coastal winds and airborne microplastics. This breakthrough study suggests significant public health implications for coastal communities.
Coastal towns and cities may be facing an invisible yet potentially hazardous threat: airborne microplastics. A new study led by marine scientists, human health experts and big data specialists from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory has revealed that a combination of sewage overflows and coastal winds could be sending billions of airborne microplastic particles into our coastal environments.
Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study meticulously analyzed two years of data on combined sewer overflows into Plymouth Sound. The researchers examined same-day and long-term meteorological and satellite data to evaluate how frequently conditions for aerosolization — when particles are transferred from water to air — were met.
Their findings establish a compelling case.
On 178 days within the two-year period studied, sewage spills coincided with winds exceeding 6.5 meters per second (23.4 km/h), blowing back to shore and toward the city of Plymouth. This could have occurred during almost 1,600 hours, or 10% of the period analyzed.
Once airborne, these particles could be inhaled by local residents, posing possible health risks.
Lauren Biermann, a lecturer in marine science at the University of Plymouth and the study’s corresponding author, highlighted the significant implications of this research.
“Our study is the first to make the connection between water pollution and air quality, and raises the question about potential health risks,” she said in a news release.
This study is a synthesis of existing research demonstrating high concentrations of microplastics in sewage spills and the role of wind in transporting these particles from sea to air.
With thousands of cities across the world still employing combined sewer systems, the findings propose that coastal spills, when coupled with onshore winds, may serve as a previously overlooked source of airborne microplastics.
“There has always been a gap between the amount of microplastics we believed were being deposited in the oceans, and the concentrations observed by ship-based measurements. We think we have finally worked out why, and the impacts on human health are concerning,” added co-author David Moffat, an artificial intelligence and data scientist lead at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
A deeper dive into satellite data revealed river plumes coinciding with sewage spills, observable up to about 10 kilometers offshore. The most significant declines in coastal water clarity occurred during late autumn and early winter, aligning with peak spill periods over the past decade.
The research team is calling for further studies to explore the links between sewage spills, air quality and potential health hazards.
They also advocate for integrating air quality monitoring with coastal water assessments to better understand exposure pathways.
Co-author Clive Sabel, a professor of big data and spatial science at the University of Plymouth, emphasized the urgency: “The health implications of this work are important. Inhaled microplastics can cross into our blood streams and from there can accumulate in organs such as our brains and livers. We need legislation to force our UK water supply companies to remove microplastics from our wastewater systems.”
As the understanding of microplastics’ effects on human health continues to evolve, this study underscores the need for immediate and comprehensive action. By identifying a new potential source of airborne microplastics, this research not only advances scientific knowledge but also prompts critical public health discussions and policy considerations.
Source: University of Plymouth