The role of ponds in the retention of micro(nano)plastics, tyre wear particles and their leachates: current state of the science, research gaps and opportunities
- 1Department of Geography, Swansea University Swansea Wales UK [email protected].
Abstract
Natural and artificial ponds offer a cost-effective management technique to potentially remove water contaminants including micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and tyre wear particles (TWPs). The use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), including ponds, is increasingly being promoted by governmental guidance in countries such as the UK, the USA, and Denmark in part to address contaminated runoff in new road and housing developments with increasing calls to make these systems mandatory. Traditionally, the focus has been on the removal of contaminants such as metals, suspended particles, PAHs and pesticides, improving water quality and reducing diffuse pollution. In more recent years, the efficacy of ponds in the removal of MPs and TWPs has been increasingly investigated. Studies estimate, albeit with potentially substantial uncertainty, that pond removal efficiencies for microplastics (MPs) and TWPs range from 83.9% to 99.9% and 80.1% to 100.0%, respectively. However, with current legislative steps toward ponds becoming increasingly widespread as a remediation tool, there are a number of significant gaps in the current body of research that need to be addressed. The transport and fate of nanoplastics (NPs) need to be examined, TWPs need to be consistently included in studies, and the transport through ponds of contaminants sorbed by MNPs and TWPs alongside manufacturing additives leached by MNPs and TWPs must be considered. As analytical techniques develop and are standardised, future studies should ensure that these aspects are considered more thoroughly to enable relevant conclusions to be drawn that could shape the design of future pond systems.
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BibTeX
@article{cairns2026role,
title = {{The role of ponds in the retention of micro(nano)plastics, tyre wear particles and their leachates: current state of the science, research gaps and opportunities}},
author = {Stuart Cairns and Muhammad Junaid and Iain Robertson},
journal = {Environmental science : water research \& technology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ew00639f},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13726797},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The role of ponds in the retention of micro(nano)plastics, tyre wear particles and their leachates: current state of the science, research gaps and opportunities
AU - Stuart Cairns
AU - Muhammad Junaid
AU - Iain Robertson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Environmental science : water research & technology
DO - 10.1039/d6ew00639f
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13726797
AB - Natural and artificial ponds offer a cost-effective management technique to potentially remove water contaminants including micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) and tyre wear particles (TWPs). The use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), including ponds, is increasingly being promoted by governmental guidance in countries such as the UK, the USA, and Denmark in part to address contaminated runoff in new road and housing developments with increasing calls to make these systems mandatory. Traditionally, the focus has been on the removal of contaminants such as metals, suspended particles, PAHs and pesticides, improving water quality and reducing diffuse pollution. In more recent years, the efficacy of ponds in the removal of MPs and TWPs has been increasingly investigated. Studies estimate, albeit with potentially substantial uncertainty, that pond removal efficiencies for microplastics (MPs) and TWPs range from 83.9% to 99.9% and 80.1% to 100.0%, respectively. However, with current legislative steps toward ponds becoming increasingly widespread as a remediation tool, there are a number of significant gaps in the current body of research that need to be addressed. The transport and fate of nanoplastics (NPs) need to be examined, TWPs need to be consistently included in studies, and the transport through ponds of contaminants sorbed by MNPs and TWPs alongside manufacturing additives leached by MNPs and TWPs must be considered. As analytical techniques develop and are standardised, future studies should ensure that these aspects are considered more thoroughly to enable relevant conclusions to be drawn that could shape the design of future pond systems.
SN - 2053-1400
SN - 2053-1419
ER -