Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on microplastic abundance along the River Thames

Devereux, Ria; Ayati, Bamdad; Westhead, Elizabeth Kebede; Jayaratne, Ravindra; Newport, Darryl J.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114763

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar to our trends, the microplastic abundance decreased from prepandemic times to postpandemic times in the river Thames, UK and in coastal water and sediment of Chennai, India. 44,45 There are several possible reasons for this decline. First, there is a temporal lag in the response of changes in marine AP fluxes to the social activities due to their leaching and accumulation processes.…”

Section: Ap Concentrations Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetaceans as Bioindicators to Assess Alkylphenol Exposure and Hormone-Disrupting Effects in the South China Sea

Guo

Sun

Shi

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Alkylphenols (APs) represent one of the highest exposure levels among endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the South China Sea (SCS) due to their extensive use as plastic additives. The concerns about EDCs, including APs, have been reiterated since the surge in plastic waste from the COVID-19 response, but far less is known about the response of AP loadings in the SCS to emerging public policies and activities, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we used cetaceans as bioindicators for monitoring two major APs, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP), in nine stranded cetacean species (n = 110) in the SCS between 2004 and 2021. Prior to the COVID-19, APs loads showed decreasing temporal trends for finless porpoises and humpback dolphins, most likely due to China's restrictions on AP use or a shift in dominant prey species. Unexpectedly, AP loads continued to decline after the COVID-19 outbreak, probably due to a temporal-lag response of marine AP fluxes to the pandemic. The health risk assessments based on hormone biomarkers and toxicity thresholds suggest the potential adverse effects of APs on cetaceans, while recent declines in APs, though limited, may mitigate the detrimental impacts.

show abstract

Section: Ap Concentrations Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetaceans as Bioindicators to Assess Alkylphenol Exposure and Hormone-Disrupting Effects in the South China Sea

Guo

Sun

Shi

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Thames River stands as one of London's most prized natural assets, serving as a vital component of the city's transportation network and supporting the livelihoods of its inhabitants (Devereux et al, 2023). However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the current clean and pristine state of the Thames River was not always the case.…”

Section: Thames River London United Kingdommentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in the present day, it has become rather isolated from the community, and even from the city itself, despite flowing through the heart of the city. The construction of a high embankment wall has further exacerbated this sense of isolation, leading to significant social problems (Feldmann, 2022). It is evident that the community's appreciation of nature, exemplified by rivers, significantly impacts their daily lives.…”

Section: Tiber River Rome Italymentioning

confidence: 99%

Architecture as Urban Catalyst: Infographic Design Guideline on Kuala Lumpur Riverfront Revitalisation

Mohd Yusman,

Shaari,

Samadi

et al. 2023

IJSCET

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In various areas, communities and localities worldwide, a traversing river playsa vital role as the lifeblood of many dwellings andurban areas. Kuala Lumpur's expanding urban spaces indicate a thriving economy. Despite this, therapid developmenthas led to the construction ofmanyresidential and commercial buildings along the river, resulting in pollution from domestic, physical, and chemical waste. This pollution poses a threat to urban waste management, impacting both health and the river's ecosystem. To address this issue, this study endeavoursto recommend an updated set of design guidelines for the Dayabumi, Kuala Lumpur riverfront architecture. The recommended guideline will focus onalterations to theriver form and build form interventions to achieve the desired results. Through case studies, literature reviews, and observations from developed countries, the study identified best practices for waste management and architectural design. The findingsencompass waste management programs and design guidelines covering build form, river form, green coverings, economy injection, and the overall urban environment. By enforcing appropriate regulations and preparing for future waste production, we can protect and revitalize the riverfront at Dayabumi, Kuala Lumpur.

show abstract

“…The increase in single-use plastic usage and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic has contributed to an increase in plastic waste, including MPs ( Silva et al, 2021 ). The increase in plastic waste from COVID-19-related activities lead to an increase in microplastic distribution in basins and coastal areas ( Devereux et al, 2023 ). Additionally, the pandemic has also affected waste management systems, with many facilities being closed or operating at reduced capacity due to safety concerns, leading to the improper disposal of plastic waste ( Sharma et al, 2020 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the degradation of these plastic wastes into MPs can pose more harm to all organisms, including humans ( Yang et al, 2022 ). Different studies have been done to investigate the impact of surgical masks on the environment, and the number of MPs released from the surgical masks varies among studies ( Devereux et al, 2023 ). The large amount of microfibres releasing from a single mask is a matter of concern ( Saliu et al, 2021 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Did the COVID-19 pandemic play a role in the spatial and temporal variations of microplastics? Evidence from a tropical river in southern India

Amrutha

Warrier

Rangel-Buitrago

2023

Marine Pollution Bulletin

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on microplastic abundance along the River Thames

Cited by 12 publications

References 40 publications

Cetaceans as Bioindicators to Assess Alkylphenol Exposure and Hormone-Disrupting Effects in the South China Sea

Cetaceans as Bioindicators to Assess Alkylphenol Exposure and Hormone-Disrupting Effects in the South China Sea

Architecture as Urban Catalyst: Infographic Design Guideline on Kuala Lumpur Riverfront Revitalisation

Did the COVID-19 pandemic play a role in the spatial and temporal variations of microplastics? Evidence from a tropical river in southern India

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About