BGS to lead a new research project on microplastic occurrence in springs
BGS has been awarded a two-year research project to undertake the first assessment of microplastic occurrence in springs in the UK.
06/03/2024 By BGS Press
BGS will begin the first phase of sampling for a two-year research project, ‘Microplastics in groundwater II: springs’, in the next few months. This research is funded by the Environment Agency (England). Sampling will follow site selection, which will be based on access and suitability for obtaining representative groundwater samples, geology and spring discharge criteria.
Around 20 sites across the UK will be investigated for the pilot study, to ensure there’s a reasonable geographical spread that will provide representative data. Chalk and limestone springs with large discharges will be prioritised and will include some spring sources used for public drinking-water supply in England.
The research project is in partnership with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and is funded by the Environment Agency (England). This is an important first UK study to evaluate microplastic pollution in spring sources that are used for drinking water and contribute to river flows and supporting groundwater dependent ecosystems. Results will be published as a BGS open report in April 2025.
Dan Lapworth, BGS Principal Hydrogeochemist.
The research project builds on previous work completed by BGS on developing methods for sampling microplastics in UK groundwater and stygobites.
Relative topics
Related news
Brighid Ó Dochartaigh honoured with prestigious Geological Society award
27/11/2024
A recently retired BGS employee has been honoured for her contribution to the hydrogeological community.
UK–Philippine partnership to help tackle the challenges of future water security in the Philippines
07/11/2024
New ‘hydrological hub’ to foster research and provide essential national water management datasets and tools.
Forty years and counting: new topsoil data provides most extensive snapshot of environmental pollution effects
01/10/2024
Scientists have uncovered clear signs of the impact environmental pollution is having across the country’s soil.
BGS Groundwater Flooding Susceptibility: helping mitigate one of the UK’s most costly hazards
25/09/2024
Groundwater flooding accounts for an estimated £530 million in damages per year; geoscientific data can help to minimise its impact.
New £38 million project to reduce the impact of floods and droughts
02/09/2024
BGS will take a leading role in efforts to better predict the location and effects of extreme weather events.
Extracting formation temperatures from stalagmites
14/08/2024
BGS’s Andrew Smith explores the karstic depressions of northern Spain in the quest to create a palaeothermometer.
Warnings for Scottish farmers and distillers as new data indicates climate change may double number of droughts
23/07/2024
The agricultural and distilling sectors could face significant challenges after research finds the number of droughts in Scotland may double in the next 25 years.
Creswell Crags Museum collections offer insight into the past and future of wolves
12/07/2024
Bones found at the site are helping scientists to understand the diet of wolves and how they differ over time.
Philippine National Hydrological Model
The first national-scale hydrological model of the Philippines.
Glacial, periglacial and permafrost modelling
Glacier ice and permafrost have important implications for global water security and energy infrastructure
British Groundwater Model
A unique tool for simulating groundwater resources at the national scale.
Environmental modelling
Advancing the understanding of environmental systems through innovative modelling techniques and interdisciplinary research.