Bioretention Systems Capture 99.8% of Microplastics in Urban Runoff, Protecting Waterways
Microplastics were found in stormwater runoff, but using bioretention systems can effectively remove them. Researchers studied microplastic levels in stormwater from Portland and found an average of 4.5 particles per liter, mostly fibers like cotton and polyester. Bioretention systems removed 99.8% of microplastics in lab tests, showing they can help reduce microplastic pollution in water bodies.