Harnessing microplastic contaminant hydro(bio)logy: Proxies for flood impact, surface-groundwater connectivity, and urbanisation Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • Urban runoff, shaped by human activities and land use, is a key source of microplastics (MPs), contributing to the contamination of rivers, groundwater, and coastal systems. Understanding MP sources, variability, and behaviour in urban runoff remains challenging due to their diverse origins and dynamic transport processes. Flood events accelerate the mobilisation of MPs, redistributing particles across catchments and ecosystems. Processes like fragmentation, ageing, and retention alter MPs¿ size, shape, and surface properties, influencing their transport, accumulation, and interactions in different environments. This opinion article examines the potential of MP profiling to evaluate the extent and pathways of surface-groundwater interactions in urbanizing landscapes, with a focus on flood impacts. The study further highlights the coexistence of MPs with other pollutants and their potential infiltration into groundwater. Through analysis of microplastic contaminant loads, composition, and transport during and after flood events, this opinion demonstrates their dual function as markers of flood occurrences and tools for evaluating hydrological connectivity altered by urban development. The findings highlight the promise of MP hydro(bio)logy as a sensitive, cost-effective approach for integrated water management, improved flood impact assessment, and the formulation of urban planning strategies tailored to mitigate environmental risks in rapidly changing catchments. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

publication date

  • February 1, 2026