UBC Microplastics Seminar Series
October 22, 2021, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Microplastics in Urban Stormwater
Dr. Karin Björklund
Water Quality Specialist
Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd, Vancouver
Friday, October 22, 2021
1-2 pm PST
Abstract: It is estimated that 10% of the annual production of plastics ends up in our oceans and that 70–80% of marine microplastics originate from land-based sources, transported mainly via rivers. Estimations have shown that the highest proportion of the total loads of microplastics into European rivers originates from road-related sources, transported with stormwater to receiving waters. Stormwater may also transport microplastics from other land-based sources, such as artificial turfs, and because of inadequate waste management. This talk will provide an overview of sources to microplastics in urban runoff, how the particles and other pollutants are transported with stormwater to marine waters, and how we can reduce microplastic loads in urban runoff.
Bio: Dr Karin Björklund has over 10 years' experience of research on stormwater quality. Karin started her career as a PhD student at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, followed by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Department of Civil Engineering at UBC. She then moved back to Sweden and worked as an Associated Professor in Sustainable Stormwater Management. Currently, Karin works as a Water Quality Specialist for the local engineering consulting firm Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL).