The study, conducted by the Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA) at UPV and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the Romanian university, indicates that the Tancat de la Pipa draws water from the Catarroja and Poyo channels to purify it, thereby reducing microplastics and other pollutants originating from rainwater runoff or human activities such as navigation, agriculture, or wastewater treatment.
Analysis of microplastic concentrations at the wetland's inlet and outlet confirms that it retains approximately 36% of incoming particles. Vegetation and sedimentation processes are key to this retention, although they do not entirely prevent downstream transport, especially for smaller particles.
“"Vegetation and sedimentation processes retain particles, but they cannot completely prevent downstream transport, especially in the case of smaller particles."
This research sheds light on the role of artificial wetlands as nature-based solutions for mitigating microplastic pollution. According to the researcher, conceptual evaluation of sources combined with field observations helps identify the main microplastic contamination pathways and assess the wetland's retention performance.
Artificial wetlands like the Tancat de la Pipa capture and accumulate microplastics through processes such as sedimentation, filtration, and vegetation retention. However, Carmen Hernández-Crespo warns that this retention does not imply permanent removal, as retained particles can be remobilized. To optimize their retention capacity, it is crucial to evaluate their performance based on design, hydrology, and particle characteristics.
The research also highlights two categories of microplastics: primary, manufactured at microscopic size, and secondary, resulting from the degradation of plastic products. Annually, around 245 tons of microplastics end up in water bodies worldwide, with plastic recycling rates barely reaching 9%, projecting a plastic accumulation of 3.1 billion tons by 2050.
