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Laboratory experiments on the fate and transport of microplastics in riverine environments: a review.

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Title: Laboratory experiments on the fate and transport of microplastics in riverine environments: a review.
Authors: Lau, Kelly Y. K.1 (AUTHOR) klau075@uottawa.ca, Mohammadian, Abdolmajid1 (AUTHOR), Pilechi, Abolghasem1,2 (AUTHOR), Nistor, Ioan1 (AUTHOR), Otoo, Ebenezer1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Environmental Reviews. 6/15/2026, Vol. 34, p1-29. 29p.
Subject Terms: *Hydrodynamics, *Weathering, Microplastics, River travel, Abiotic environment, Particle dynamics analysis, Fouling, Chemistry experiments
Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) from predominantly terrestrial sources are transported by rivers to the oceans. Yet, the underlying riverine transport processes remain insufficiently understood. This comprehensive review synthesizes some laboratory studies published between 2021 and 2025, also including earlier work where relevant, on MPs transport and transformation in experimentally simulated riverine flows, focusing on characterization, biofouling and abiotic weathering, and unconventional experimental designs quantifying settling, dispersion, vertical distributions, near-bed transport, incipient motion, and infiltration. Findings indicated that particle properties and environmental factors jointly determine MPs fate. Shape-dependent drag, along with changes in particle density and surrounding hydrodynamic profile from biofouling or UV aging, control settling behavior, and can accelerate either sinking or rising. Flow conditions (e.g., turbulence and presence of vegetation) govern longitudinal dispersion and vertical mixing, while bed roughness (ks) modulates near-bed transport regimes, shifting particles between rolling, saltation, and suspension. Standardized metrics and cross-scale experiments are needed to improve predictive models, with key gaps remaining in small-particle dynamics, non-spherical forms, and biofilm–turbulence interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: GreenFILE
Description
Abstract:Microplastics (MPs) from predominantly terrestrial sources are transported by rivers to the oceans. Yet, the underlying riverine transport processes remain insufficiently understood. This comprehensive review synthesizes some laboratory studies published between 2021 and 2025, also including earlier work where relevant, on MPs transport and transformation in experimentally simulated riverine flows, focusing on characterization, biofouling and abiotic weathering, and unconventional experimental designs quantifying settling, dispersion, vertical distributions, near-bed transport, incipient motion, and infiltration. Findings indicated that particle properties and environmental factors jointly determine MPs fate. Shape-dependent drag, along with changes in particle density and surrounding hydrodynamic profile from biofouling or UV aging, control settling behavior, and can accelerate either sinking or rising. Flow conditions (e.g., turbulence and presence of vegetation) govern longitudinal dispersion and vertical mixing, while bed roughness (ks) modulates near-bed transport regimes, shifting particles between rolling, saltation, and suspension. Standardized metrics and cross-scale experiments are needed to improve predictive models, with key gaps remaining in small-particle dynamics, non-spherical forms, and biofilm–turbulence interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:11818700
DOI:10.1139/er-2025-0241