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Microplastics in sediments of the River Thames Basin, UK

This dataset provides numbers and types of plastic particles extracted from sediment samples of three tributaries of the river Thames: the River Leach, the River Lambourn and The Cut. These rivers are regularly monitored for a range of water quality and biological characteristics as part of the ongoing CEH Thames initiative project. Four sampling sites were selected based on the average percentage of effluent present in the river and population equivalent density to represent scenarios ranging from low sewage input and population equivalent density (Leach and Lanbourn) through an intermediate site (the Cut) to a site with high sewage input and population equivalent density (also in the Cut). The samples were collected between late August and early September 2014. The data provides information on the site characteristics, dry weight of sediment analysed (in grams), number of microplastic particles extracted and characteristics of particles (including shape, colour and polymer type). Types of polymers identified include: polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon and polyester. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e

Simple

Date (Publication)
2017-04-26
Identifier
https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e
Identifier
doi: / 10.5285/93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e
Other citation details
Horton, A.A., Svendsen, C., Williams, R., Spurgeon, D., Lahive, E. (2017). Microplastics in sediments of the River Thames Basin, UK. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre 10.5285/93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e
Point of contact
  UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Horton, A.
Author
  Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Horton, A.A.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6058-6048
Author
  Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Svendsen, C.
Author
  Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Williams, R.
Author
  Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Spurgeon, D.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760
Author
  Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - Lahive, E.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9975-8521
Publisher
  NERC Environmental Information Data Centre
Custodian
  NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
Owner
  UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Maintenance and update frequency
notPlanned Not planned
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
  • Environmental Monitoring Facilities
Access constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
no limitations
Use constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
This resource is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Use constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
© UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Use constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
If you reuse this data, you should cite: Horton, A.A., Svendsen, C., Williams, R., Spurgeon, D., Lahive, E. (2017). Microplastics in sediments of the River Thames Basin, UK. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre https://doi.org/10.5285/93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e
Spatial representation type
textTable Text, table
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Character set
utf8 UTF8
Topic category
  • Environment
  • Inland waters
  • Utilities communication
Begin date
2014-08-28
End date
2014-09-03
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Unique resource identifier
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
Distribution format
  • Comma-separated values (CSV) ()

Distributor
  NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
OnLine resource
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Supporting information

Supporting information available to assist in re-use of this dataset

Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Other
dataset

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2010-12-08
Statement
The average percentage effluent present in the river was estimated using the Low Flows 2000 (LF2000) WQX (Water Quality eXtension) model. The population equivalent density was calculated using population within the catchment area (of known area) served by the upstream sewage treatment works. This site characteristic data is given in the datasheet ThamesMicroplastics_SamplingLocations. Four replicate sediment samples were taken at each site using a stainless steel scoop, collected into a 1 L glass jar. In the laboratory the 1 L sediment samples were wet-sieved and sediment in the size ranges 1-2 mm and 2-4 mm was retained for further analysis. Microplastic particles were extracted using a number of steps, consisting of manual sorting and density separation with zinc chloride solution (1.7-1.8 kg/L). Each sample comprised a different volume and weight following size-sieving, therefore the inclusion of dry weight data allows for the conversion of total microplastic particles into a concentration (e.g. particles/kg dry sediment) for comparability between samples (ThamesMicroplastics_NumberOfParticles). A subsample (20%) of particles were characterised by type and colour, with composition determined using Raman spectroscopy (ThamesMicroplastics_ParticleCharacteristics). Further details on the methods used for particle extraction and characterisation are available in the supporting information.
File identifier
93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e XML
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Character set
ISO/IEC 8859-1 (also known as Latin 1) 8859 Part 1
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Hierarchy level name
dataset
Date stamp
2025-03-21T13:21:51
Metadata standard name
UK GEMINI
Metadata standard version
2.3
Point of contact
  NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg , Lancaster , LA1 4AP , UK
https://eidc.ac.uk/
 
 

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GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Environmental Monitoring Facilities

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