Plastic debris in rivers
Abstract
Plastic pollution in aquatic environments is an emerging environmental risk, as it negatively impacts ecosystems, endangers aquatic species, and causes economic damage. Rivers are known to play a crucial role in transporting land-based plastic waste into the world's oceans. However, rivers and their ecosystems are also directly affected by plastic pollution. To better quantify global plastic pollution pathways and to effectively reduce sources and risks, a thorough understanding of riverine plastic debris sources, transport, fate and effects is crucial. In our presentation, we discuss the current scientific state on plastic debris in rivers and evaluate existing knowledge gaps. We discuss the origin and fate of riverine plastics, including processes and factors influencing plastic debris transport and its spatiotemporal variation. Moreover, we present an overview of monitoring and modeling efforts to characterize riverine plastic transport and give examples of typical values from around the world. With our presentation we aim to present a comprehensive overview of riverine plastic debris research to date and suggest multiple ways forward for future research.
(Artwork by Cher van der Eng)- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.H43O2288V
- Keywords:
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- 1803 Anthropogenic effects;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1834 Human impacts;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1871 Surface water quality;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1879 Watershed;
- HYDROLOGY