Navigating the difference of riverine microplastic movement footprint into the sea: Particle properties influence

As a critical source of marine microplastics (MPs), estuarine MPs community varied in movement due to particle diversity, while tide and runoff further complicated their transport. In this study, a particle mass gradient that represents MPs in the surface layer of the Yangtze River estuary was established. This was done by calculating the masses of 16 particle types using the particle size probability density function (PDF), with typical shapes and polymers as classifiers. Further, Aschenbrenner shape factor and polymer density were embedded into drag coefficients to categorically trace MP movement footprints. Results revealed that the MPs in North Branch moved northward and the MPs in South Branch moved southeastward in a spiral oscillation until they left the model boundary under Changjiang Diluted Water front and the northward coastal currents. Low-density fibrous MPs are more likely to move into the open ocean and oscillate more than films, with a single PE fiber trajectory that reached a maximum oscillatory width of 16.7 km. Over 95 % of the PVC fiber particles settled in nearshore waters west of 122.5°E. Elucidating the aggregation and retention of different MPs types can provide more accurate environmental baseline reference for more precise MP exposure levels and risk dose of ingestion for marine organisms. [Display omitted] •Microplastic (MP) size probability density function helps simulated error to 18.13 %.•MPs footprint are pushed southeast across 123°E as river plume offset coast current.•Polyethylene fiber move to sea with widest oscillatory spiral trajectory of 16.7 km.•95.39 % of polyvinyl chloride fibers are trapped in nearshore waters west of 122.5°E.