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Kristina Enders

Analogies between microplastics and natural particles for inventory mapping in aquatic sediments

Universität Rostock, 2025-08-12

https://doi.org/10.18453/rosdok_id00005703

Abstract: This thesis improves quantification of microplastics (MP) in aquatic sediments by developing comparable, management-relevant inventory estimates. Sediment analyses in two Baltic estuaries (Warnow and Schlei) reveal a robust grain-size–MP relationship, enabling granulometric normalisation that accounts for hydrodynamic bias. A machine-learning–based predictive modelling pipeline uses grain size, water depth and spatio-temporal discontinuity to map MP distributions from limited observations. The work is supported by validated laboratory workflows, novel separation and immobilisation methods.

doctoral thesis   free access