Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Investigating Changes In Permeability Caused By The Transport And Retention Of Microplastics In Saturated Sand Columns, Iliansherry Santiago

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Microplastics (MPs), plastic particles present and continuously moving in our environment, represent a contaminant of global concern to the scientific community and society. MPs are particles less than 5 mm and are ubiquitous in our surroundings and the environment. MPs have been detected in oceans, soils, freshwater, drinking water and groundwater. MPs are considered contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), as they contain toxic components and serve as carriers for other contaminants that may affect the ecology and human health. Limited laboratory and field experiments demonstrate that MPs are transported and retained in porous media of a groundwater aquifer. A research …