Macro-litter in surface waters from the Rhone River: Plastic pollution and loading to the NW Mediterranean Sea

Castro-Jiménez, Javier; González-Fernández, Daniel; Fornier, M.; Schmidt, Natascha; Sempéré, Richard

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.05.067

Cited by 166 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(55 reference statements)

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“…Once entered a river (see Figures 2 and 3), plastic transport is influenced by hydrological factors such as water level, flow velocity, and discharge (van Emmerik et al, 2018). Several studies found a positive correlation between river discharge and plastic transport (Castro-Jiménez et al, 2019;Moore et al, 2011). Increased water levels can remobilize plastics that are temporarily accumulated on riverbanks or in vegetated riparian zones.…”

Section: Origin and Fate Of Riverine Plastic Debrismentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic debris in rivers

2019

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Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is an emerging environmental risk, as it may negatively impacts ecology, endangers aquatic species, and causes economic damage. Rivers are known to play a crucial role in transporting land‐based plastic waste to the world's oceans, but riverine ecosystems are also directly affected by plastic pollution. To better quantify global plastic pollution transport and to effectively reduce sources and risks, a thorough understanding of origin, transport, fate, and effects of riverine plastic debris is crucial. In this overview paper, we discuss the current scientific state on plastic debris in rivers and evaluate existing knowledge gaps. We present a brief background of plastics, polymer types typically found in rivers, and the risk posed to aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, we elaborate on the origin and fate of riverine plastics, including processes and factors influencing plastic debris transport and its spatiotemporal variation. We present an overview of monitoring and modeling efforts to characterize riverine plastic transport, and give examples of typical values from around the world. Finally, we present an outlook to riverine plastic research. With this paper, we aim to present an inclusive and comprehensive overview of riverine plastic debris research to date and suggest multiple ways forward for future research. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water Quality Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems

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Section: Origin and Fate Of Riverine Plastic Debrismentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic debris in rivers

2019

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“…The period and frequency of counting and sampling vary for each river from 3 d in total to a weekly assessment for a period of 12 months. All measurements conducted by this study were done in 2018, except the measurements in 2017 in the Tiber and the Rhône, conducted by Crosti et al [20] and Castro-Jiménez et al [28] respectively. In Europe, measurements were done in Italy, The Netherlands, and France.…”

Section: Measured Waterwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Rhône river in France flows into the Mediterranean sea. Results from the study Castro-Jiménez et al [28] are used in this study. The plastic flux is measured in the middle of the river, with an observation width of 65 m. In Asia, measurements were done in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.…”

Section: Measured Waterwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abundance of plastic debris across European and Asian rivers

Calcar

Emmerik

2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

132

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Plastic pollution in the marine environment is an urgent global environmental challenge. Land-based plastics, emitted into the ocean through rivers, are believed to be the main source of marine plastic litter. According to the latest model-based estimates, most riverine plastics are emitted in Asia. However, the exact amount of global riverine plastic emission remains uncertain due to a severe lack of observation. Field-based studies are rare in numbers, focused on rivers in Europe and North America and used strongly varying data collection methods. We present a harmonized assessment of floating macroplastic transport from observations at 24 locations in rivers in seven countries in Europe and Asia. Visual counting and debris sampling were used to assess (1) magnitude of plastic transport, (2) the spatial distribution across the river width, and (3) the plastic polymer composition. Several waterways in Indonesia and Vietnam contain up to four orders of magnitude more plastic than waterways in Italy, France, and The Netherlands in terms of plastic items per hour. We present a first transcontinental overview of plastic transport, providing observational evidence that, for the sampled rivers, Asian rivers transport considerably more plastics towards the ocean. New insights are presented in the magnitude, composition, and spatiotemporal variation of riverine plastic debris. We emphasize the urgent need for more long-term monitoring efforts. Accurate data on riverine plastic debris are extremely important to improve global and local modeling approaches and to optimize prevention and collection strategies.

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“…All monitoring long-term efforts of floating (plastic) litter to date have been done using the visual counting method (e.g. Crosti et al, 2018;Castro-Jiménez et al, 2019;van Emmerik et al, 2019b). Floating litter observations can also be facilitated through citizen science.…”

Section: Floating Littermentioning

confidence: 99%