1
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Schreyers LJ, van Emmerik THM, Huthoff F, Collas FPL, Wegman C, Vriend P, Boon A, de Winter W, Oswald SB, Schoor MM, Wallerstein N, van der Ploeg M, Uijlenhoet R. River plastic transport and storage budget. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121786. [PMID: 38875862 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Rivers are one of the main conduits that deliver plastic from land into the sea, and also act as reservoirs for plastic retention. Yet, our understanding of the extent of river exposure to plastic pollution remains limited. In particular, there has been no comprehensive quantification of the contributions from different river compartments, such as the water surface, water column, riverbank and floodplain to the overall river plastic transport and storage. This study aims to provide an initial quantification of these contributions. We first identified the main relevant transport processes for each river compartment considered. We then estimated the transport and storage terms, by harmonizing available observations on surface, suspended and floodplain plastic. We applied our approach to two river sections in The Netherlands, with a focus on macroplastics (≥2.5 cm). Our analysis revealed that for the studied river sections, suspended plastics account for over 96% of item transport within the river channel, while their relative contribution to mass transport is only 30%-37% (depending on the river section considered). Surface plastics predominantly consisted of heavier items (mean mass: 7.1 g/#), whereas suspended plastics were dominated by lighter fragments (mean mass: 0.1 g/#). Additionally, the majority (98%) of plastic mass was stored within the floodplains, with the river channel accounting for only 2% of the total storage. Our study developed a harmonized approach for quantifying plastic transport and storage across different river compartments, providing a replicable methodology applicable to different regions. Our findings emphasize the importance of systematic monitoring programs across river compartments for comprehensive insights into riverine plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise J Schreyers
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Tim H M van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fredrik Huthoff
- Marine and Fluvial Systems, University of Twente, Twente, The Netherlands; HKV, Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Water Resources and Ecosystems, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Frank P L Collas
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Hague, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Paul Vriend
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk Boon
- Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Stephanie B Oswald
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Margriet M Schoor
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas Wallerstein
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martine van der Ploeg
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Remko Uijlenhoet
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
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2
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Tasseron PF, van Emmerik THM, Vriend P, Hauk R, Alberti F, Mellink Y, van der Ploeg M. Defining plastic pollution hotspots. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173294. [PMID: 38763189 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the natural environment poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health, prompting urgent needs for monitoring, prevention and clean-up measures, and new policies. To effectively prioritize resource allocation and mitigation strategies, it is key to identify and define plastic hotspots. UNEP's draft global agreement on plastic pollution mandates prioritizing hotspots, suggesting a potential need for a defined term. Yet, the delineation of hotspots varies considerably across plastic pollution studies, and a definition is often lacking or inconsistent without a clear purpose and boundaries of the term. In this paper, we applied four common definitions of hotspot locations to plastic pollution datasets ranging from urban areas to a global scale. Our findings reveal that these hotspot definitions encompass between 0.8 % to 93.3 % of the total plastic pollution, covering <0.1 % to 50.3 % of the total locations. Given this wide range of results and the possibility of temporal inconsistency in hotspots, we emphasize the need for fit-for-purpose criteria and a unified approach to defining plastic hotspots. Therefore, we designed a step-wise framework to define hotspots by determining the purpose, units, spatial scale, temporal scale, and threshold values. Incorporating these steps in research and policymaking yields a harmonized definition of hotspots, facilitating the development of effective plastic pollution prevention and reduction measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo F Tasseron
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, 1018 JA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Tim H M van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Paul Vriend
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, 2515 XP The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Rahel Hauk
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Alberti
- Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, 1018 JA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yvette Mellink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6709 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martine van der Ploeg
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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3
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Cordova MR, Kelly MR, Hafizt M, Wibowo SPA, Ulumuddin YI, Purbonegoro T, Yogaswara D, Kaisupy MT, Subandi R, Sani SY, Thompson RC, Jobling S. From riverbank to the sea: An initial assessment of plastic pollution along the Ciliwung River, Indonesia. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116662. [PMID: 38991608 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of anthropogenic debris on the riverbanks of the Ciliwung River, covering upstream to downstream areas. The mean of debris found in each measurement was 32.79 ± 15.38 items/m2 with a weight of 106.00 ± 50.23 g/m2. Plastic debris accounted for over 50 % of all litter items identified and represents 55 % by weight, signifying a significantly high prevalence compared to global studies examining litter along riverbanks. The majority of the plastics found originated from Single-use applications and were predominantly made from Styrofoam. This investigation demonstrated the importance of actions to reduce single use applications and to improve waste management strategies. This can be achieved through proactive initiatives coupled with adaptable approaches, such as implementing effective urban planning and enhancing waste collection capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Reza Cordova
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia.
| | - Max R Kelly
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Hafizt
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Singgih Prasetyo Adi Wibowo
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Triyoni Purbonegoro
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Deny Yogaswara
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Taufik Kaisupy
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Riyana Subandi
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Sofia Yuniar Sani
- Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of Indonesia, BRIN Kawasan Jakarta Ancol Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol, 14430 Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Richard C Thompson
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Jobling
- Environmental Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom; Partnership for Plastics in Indonesian Societies (PISCES) Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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4
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Mennekes D, Mellink YAM, Schreyers LJ, van Emmerik THM, Nowack B. Macroplastic Fate and Transport Modeling: Freshwaters Act as Main Reservoirs. ACS ES&T WATER 2024; 4:2470-2481. [PMID: 38903198 PMCID: PMC11186010 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Macroplastic fate and transport in the freshwater environment are of great concern due to the potentially harmful effects of macroplastic on plants, animals, and humans. Here, we present a modeling approach to simulate macroplastic fate and transport at the country scale based on an existing plastic release model. The fate model was parametrized through available monitoring data and results from field experiments and applied to Swiss rivers and lakes. We found that almost all (98%) macroplastic emissions into freshwater remain within Switzerland. After exploring the influences of weirs, retention in rivers, and retention in lakes through a sensitivity analysis, we found a high retention variability across different catchments and within rivers. In all 22 analyzed scenarios for continuous retention along each river bank (i.e., beaching), we found that at least 70% of input emissions into the water bodies would be retained long-term in the catchments (about 200 g per river km and year). Across all catchments, we found a dominance of "continuous retention" through beaching along the entire river length compared with "point retention" at weirs or lakes. Thus, by modeling macroplastic fate and transport on a country level for the first time, we were able to confirm the concept of "rivers as plastic reservoirs" through modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mennekes
- Technology
and Society Laboratory, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Yvette A. M. Mellink
- Hydrology and Environmental
Hydraulics Group, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality
Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Louise J. Schreyers
- Hydrology and Environmental
Hydraulics Group, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality
Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tim H. M. van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental
Hydraulics Group, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality
Management Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Nowack
- Technology
and Society Laboratory, Empa—Swiss
Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
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5
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Pia RA, Nicolas G, Florencia E, Elie A, Daiana P, Luis Alberto E, Joaquina R, Camila C, Cesar Maria BM. Mini-Open Dumps in the Paraná River Floodplain: Local Problems with Global Effects. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 112:81. [PMID: 38822856 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-024-03905-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The growing production of urban solid waste is a structural problem faced by most cities around the world. The proliferation of mini-open dumps (MOD; small spontaneous open-air waste dumps formed in urban and peri-urban areas) on the banks of the Paraná River is particularly evident. During the historical drought (June-December 2021), we carried out sampling campaigns identifying MODs of the Santa Fe River, a secondary channel of the Paraná River. MOD were geolocated, measured, described and classified by origin. The distance to the river and other sensitive places was considered (houses-schools-health facilities). Our results suggested a serious environmental issue associated with poor waste management. MOD were extremely abundant in the study area, being mostly composed of domestic litter. Plastics clearly dominated the MOD composition. Burning was frequently observed as a method to reduce the volume of MOD. We concluded that the proliferation of MOD is a multi-causal problem associated with a failure of public policies and a lack of environmental education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabuffetti Ana Pia
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Garello Nicolas
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Eurich Florencia
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Abrial Elie
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pascuale Daiana
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI, CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | | | - Romero Joaquina
- Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (FHUC, UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Costa Camila
- Facultad de arquitectura, diseño y urbanismo, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (FADU, UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
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6
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van Thi KL, van Emmerik THM, Vermeulen B, Pham NQ, Hoitink AJFT. Division and retention of floating plastic at river bifurcations. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123490. [PMID: 38336137 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The transport of floating macroplastics (>2.5 cm) can be impacted by variations in hydrometeorological forcing. Several studies have demonstrated that river discharge, wind, and tides can either accelerate or impede the downstream travel path of plastic. However, there remains a substantial gap in our understanding of the impact of river geomorphological complexity on this process. In this context, the role that river bifurcations play in driving plastic dynamics under different hydrometeorological conditions is largely unexplored. Here, we show that specific plastic item categories react differently to the transport drivers, and bifurcation areas can function both as a retention and release site of plastic litter. We found that hard polyolefin appears to be the most responsive plastic to changes in flow discharge (ρ≈0.40, p≈0.01). Absolute wind velocity magnitude does not correlate to plastic transport. We explored correlations of the various plastic items types with wind vector components in all directions. Multilayer plastics correlated highest to the wind vector component that is most effective in driving plastics from an urban area to the river (ρ≈0.57, p≈0.0001). On a monthly scale, the bifurcation area retained up to 50% of the incoming upstream plastic flux. At other times, an additional 30% was released in the same area. Our results demonstrate how bifurcations distribute different plastic items types downstream under varied hydrometeorological conditions. These yields underscore the importance of assessing floating plastic transport in specific plastic item categories and taking river geomorphological complexity into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa L van Thi
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Faculty of Water Resources, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
| | - Tim H M van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bart Vermeulen
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nhan Q Pham
- Faculty of Water Resources, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - A J F Ton Hoitink
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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7
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Grosfeld JJ, Schoor MM, Taormina R, Luxemburg WMJ, Collas FPL. Macrolitter budget and spatial distribution in a groyne field along the Waal river. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116110. [PMID: 38335635 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Current research on riverine macrolitter does not yet provide a theoretic framework on the dynamics behind its accumulation and distribution along riverbanks. In an attempt to better understand these dynamics a detailed field survey of three months was conducted in which location of macrolitter items within a single groyne field along the Waal riverbanks was tracked. The data provided insight into the daily changing patterns of spatial item distribution with respect to the waterline. Furthermore, the rates of item uptake and deposition were monitored and related to hydrologic fluctuations. Uptake was initiated by rising water levels and was generally higher when the water level increased faster. Deposition occurred continuously, despite hydrologic fluctuations. This caused the riverbank macrolitter budget to be positive during stable or dropping water levels and negative during rising water levels. Although the results show clear patterns an extended monitoring duration is required to fully understand the fate of plastic objects.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Grosfeld
- TU Delft Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - M M Schoor
- Rijkswaterstaat Oost Nederland, P.O. Box 2232, 3500 GE Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - R Taormina
- TU Delft Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, the Netherlands
| | - W M J Luxemburg
- TU Delft Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, the Netherlands
| | - F P L Collas
- Radboud University, PO Box 9102, 6500 HC Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Rijkswaterstaat Zuid Nederland, P.O. Box 2232, 3500 GE Utrecht, the Netherlands
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8
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Gallitelli L, Cutini M, Scalici M. Riparian vegetation plastic monitoring: A harmonized protocol for sampling macrolitter in vegetated riverine habitats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169570. [PMID: 38145673 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Many studies highlighted that rivers transported land-based plastics to the sea. However, most of the litter remains stuck in the fluvial ecosystem, also blocked by vegetation. To date, research on riverine macrolitter focused on floating and riverbank monitoring, thus methods to sample riverbank and floating litter have been developed. Concerning rivers, few recent studies highlighted the role of riparian vegetation in entrapping plastics. Given that vegetation represents a large part of riverine ecosystems and that the dynamics of plastics entrapped by vegetation are neglected, it appears pivotal to study in more detail how vegetation contributes to plastic retention. However, as current protocols and guidelines considered only floating and riverbank plastics without providing standardized and updated strategies to monitor litter in vegetation, here we aimed to develop a new standardized protocol and tools to assess plastics in vegetation. Specifically, we focused on unveiling the three-tridimensional structure of vegetation in relation to plastic occurrence, while considering seasonal and hydromorphological aspects. To investigate the trapping effect of vegetation, we developed a three-dimensional vegetation structure index (3DVI) related to plastics. The 3DVI index considers plant structure (i.e., number of branches) and diversity (i.e., species). To test the 3DVI, we conducted an in-situ case study in central Italy. We found that both primary and secondary riparian vegetation blocked plastic litter. In detail, 3DVI correlated with the number of plastics, highlighting that the densest and most diverse communities trap more plastics. Furthermore, we provided for the first time the assessment of seasonality for the macroplastic entrapment by riparian vegetation and a preliminary quantification of wind-blown plastics. Our results should be of interest to promote the development of standardized and harmonized monitoring strategies for riparian habitat management and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gallitelli
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - M Cutini
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - M Scalici
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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9
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Mellink YAM, van Emmerik THM, Mani T. Wind- and rain-driven macroplastic mobilization and transport on land. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3898. [PMID: 38365993 PMCID: PMC10873394 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53971-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Wind and rain are considered main drivers for mobilization and transport of macroplastics on land, yet there is a lack of empirical data that quantifies this. We present lab experiment results on land-based macroplastic mobilization and transport. We placed four types of macroplastics on terrains with varying surface roughness and slope angles, and exposed them to changing wind speeds and rain intensities. In general, we find that the mobilization probability and transport velocity of macroplastics strongly depend on the combination of the terrain characteristics and material properties. At Beaufort 3, 100% of the plastic bags were mobilized, whereas for the other plastic types less than 50% were mobilized. We found 1.4 (grass) to 5 times (paved surface) higher mobilization probabilities on land than assumed by existing plastic transport models. Macroplastic transport velocities were positively correlated with wind speed, but not with rain intensity. This suggests that macroplastics are not transported on land by rain unless surface runoff develops that can bring the macroplastics afloat. Macroplastic transport velocities were, driven by wind, 1.9 and, driven by rain, 4.9 times faster on paved surfaces than on grass. This study enhances our understanding of land-based macroplastic transport and provides an empirical basis for models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette A M Mellink
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Tim H M van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Mani
- The Ocean Cleanup, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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van Emmerik THM, Kirschke S, Schreyers LJ, Nath S, Schmidt C, Wendt-Potthoff K. Estimating plastic pollution in rivers through harmonized monitoring strategies. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115503. [PMID: 37788515 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Plastics in rivers and lakes have direct local impact, and may also reach the world's oceans. Monitoring river plastic pollution is therefore key to quantify, understand and reduce plastics in all aquatic ecosystems. The lack of harmonization between ongoing monitoring efforts compromises the direct comparison and combination of available data. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched guidelines on freshwater plastic monitoring, to provide a starting point for practitioners and scientists towards harmonized data collection, analysis, and reporting. We developed a five-step workflow to support to design effective plastic monitoring strategies. The workflow was applied to three rivers (Rhine, Mekong and Odaw) across relevant gradients, including geography, hydrology, and plastic pollution levels. We show that despite the simplicity of the selected methods and the limited duration of the data collection, our harmonized approach provides crucial insights in the state of plastic pollution in very different river basins globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim H M van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Sabrina Kirschke
- United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Dresden, Germany; Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (MfN), Berlin, Germany
| | - Louise J Schreyers
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Shuvojit Nath
- United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Schmidt
- Department of Hydrogeology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
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11
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Oswald SB, Ragas AMJ, Schoor MM, Collas FPL. Quantification and characterization of macro- and mesoplastic items in the water column of the river Waal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162827. [PMID: 36921866 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Although studies on plastic concentrations mainly focus on the marine environment, recently, an increasing number of studies point out environmental consequences in freshwater environments around the world. However, there still is a paucity of field data on the abundance of riverine plastic items, in particular in the water column. In this study, we provide an overview of macro- and mesoplastic concentrations, categories, ages, and origin over several years in the water column of the river Waal, in the Netherlands. The river water column was passively sampled at two selected locations using a stow net at very low and low discharges (range 537 - 1345 m3.s-1). The most dominant macro- and mesoplastic categories were 'Miscellaneous plastic waste', including "Plastic film 2.5 - 50 cm (soft)" and "Plastic film 0 - 2.5 cm (soft)" as main categories. Macro- and mesoplastic categories were found to show limited variability during several years of monitoring. The mean macroplastic concentration (± SD) ranged between 2.2 × 10-3 ± 0.001 and 7.4 × 10-3 ± 0.003 particles.m-3 for October 2020 and November 2018, respectively. In 2020, the plastic concentrations showed a sharp decrease compared to the previous years, most likely as a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis. The origin of the plastics (e.g., countries) also showed little variability during monitoring. The consistency of several characteristics of the collected plastic suggests that the same sources were responsible for the macro- and mesoplastic input into the river Waal during low discharges and over multiple years. We present the first temporal assessment of macro- and mesoplastic concentrations and composition in the water column of the river Waal. The outcome of the current study can be used to support the development of management measures by decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B Oswald
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ad M J Ragas
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Frank P L Collas
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Science (RIBES), Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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12
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Tasseron P, Begemann F, Joosse N, van der Ploeg M, van Driel J, van Emmerik T. Amsterdam urban water system as entry point of river plastic pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-26566-5. [PMID: 37191752 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26566-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of plastic litter in aquatic environments negatively impacts ecosystems and human livelihood. Urban areas are assumed to be the main source of plastic pollution in these environments because of high anthropogenic activity. Yet, the drivers of plastic emissions, abundance, and retention within these systems and subsequent transport to river systems are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that urban water systems function as major contributors to river plastic pollution, and explore the potential driving factors contributing to the transport dynamics. Monthly visual counting of floating litter at six outlets of the Amsterdam water system results in an estimated 2.7 million items entering the closely connected IJ river annually, ranking it among the most polluting systems measured in the Netherlands and Europe. Subsequent analyses of environmental drivers (including rainfall, sunlight, wind speed, and tidal regimes) and litter flux showed very weak and insignificant correlations (r = [Formula: see text]0.19-0.16), implying additional investigation of potential drivers is required. High-frequency observations at various locations within the urban water system and advanced monitoring using novel technologies could be explored to harmonize and automate monitoring. Once litter type and abundance are well-defined with a clear origin, communication of the results with local communities and stakeholders could help co-develop solutions and stimulate behavioral change geared to reduce plastic pollution in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Tasseron
- Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6709 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, 1018 JA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Finn Begemann
- Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6709 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nonna Joosse
- Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6709 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martine van der Ploeg
- Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6709 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joppe van Driel
- Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, 1018 JA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tim van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, 6709 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Roebroek CTJ, Laufkötter C, González-Fernández D, van Emmerik T. The quest for the missing plastics: Large uncertainties in river plastic export into the sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:119948. [PMID: 36029903 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the natural environment is causing increasing concern at both the local and global scale. Understanding the dispersion of plastic through the environment is of key importance for the effective implementation of preventive measures and cleanup strategies. Over the past few years, various models have been developed to estimate the transport of plastics in rivers, using limited plastic observations in river systems. However, there is a large discrepancy between the amount of plastic being modelled to leave the river systems, and the amount of plastic that has been found in the seas and oceans. Here, we investigate one of the possible causes of this mismatch by performing an extensive uncertainty analysis of the riverine plastic export estimates. We examine the uncertainty from the homogenisation of observations, model parameter uncertainty, and underlying assumptions in models. To this end, we use the to-date most complete time-series of macroplastic observations (macroplastics have been found to contain most of the plastic mass transported by rivers), coming from three European rivers. The results show that model structure and parameter uncertainty causes up to four orders of magnitude, while the homogenisation of plastic observations introduces an additional three orders of magnitude uncertainty in the estimates. Additionally, most global models assume that variations in the plastic flux are primarily driven by river discharge. However, we show that correlations between river discharge (and other environmental drivers) and the plastic flux are never above 0.5, and strongly vary between catchments. Overall, we conclude that the yearly plastic load in rivers remains poorly constrained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caspar T J Roebroek
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Directorate D-Sustainable Resources-Bio-Economy Unit, Italy; Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Charlotte Laufkötter
- Climate and Environmental Physics, University of Bern, Switzerland; Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel González-Fernández
- Department of Biology, University Marine Research Institute INMAR, University of Cádiz and European University of the Seas, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Tim van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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14
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Huang D, Chen H, Shen M, Tao J, Chen S, Yin L, Zhou W, Wang X, Xiao R, Li R. Recent advances on the transport of microplastics/nanoplastics in abiotic and biotic compartments. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129515. [PMID: 35816806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastics enter the environment and break up into microplastics (MPs) and even nanoplastics (NPs) by biotic and abiotic weathering. These small particles are widely distributed in the environmental media and extremely mobile and reactive, easily suspending in the air, infiltrating into the soil, and interacting with biota. Current research on MPs/NPs is either in the abiotic or biotic compartments, with little attention paid to the fact that the biosphere as a whole. To better understand the complex and continuous movement of plastics from biological to planetary scales, this review firstly discusses the transport processes and drivers of microplastics in the macroscopic compartment. We then summarize insightfully the uptake pathways of MPs/NPs by different species in the ecological compartment and analyze the internalization mechanisms of NPs in the organism. Finally, we highlight the bioaccumulation potential, biomagnification effects and trophic transfer of MPs/NPs in the food chain. This work is expected to provide a meaningful theoretical body of knowledge for understanding the biogeochemical cycles of plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlian Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China.
| | - Haojie Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Maocai Shen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Jiaxi Tao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Sha Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Lingshi Yin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Xinya Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Ruihao Xiao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Ruijin Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
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15
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Pervez R, Lai Z. Spatio-temporal variations of litter on Qingdao tourist beaches in China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119060. [PMID: 35245618 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Beaches are an integral part of coastal tourism, but they are deteriorated by the beachgoers and recreational activities due to lack of adequate beach environmental awareness and management. Litter is widely distributed in marine and coastal environment and has been considered a severe concern. In China investigations to determine the beach litter abundance and pollution level are limited. The aim of this study is to estimate spatio-temporal distribution and composition of litter on 10 well-known Qingdao tourist beaches, involving pollution level by beach quality indexes. Beach litter was collected within an area of 25 × 25 m2 in both summer (May, June and July) and winter (Nov, Dec and Jan) seasons, and was classified into eight categories. The abundance of beach litter was found higher in summer (0.13 ± 0.04 items/m2) than in winter (0.04 ± 0.01 items/m2). Overall, the percentage of plastics were higher in both summer (23.48%) and winter (24.04%) than that of other litter categories. Based on Clean Coast Index, 70% of beaches were very clean, 25% clean, and 5% moderately clean. Beach Grade Index showed that 15% beaches were very good, 5% good, 55% fair, and 25% poor. 85% beaches constituted some quantity of hazardous litter and 15% had no hazardous litter for Hazardous Items index. The findings suggest that the sources of beach litter along Qingdao beaches mainly come from the recreational and tourist activities. The substantial quantity of litter is also being transported by ocean (tides or current), which are finally deposited along beachfront. Despite regular cleaning operation along most of Qingdao beaches, suggested management practices involve mitigation measures, source reduction, change in littering behavior to improve further quality of beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Pervez
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Protection, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Zhongping Lai
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Protection, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.
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16
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Garello N, Blettler MCM, Espínola LA, Wantzen KM, González-Fernández D, Rodrigues S. The role of hydrodynamic fluctuations and wind intensity on the distribution of plastic debris on the sandy beaches of Paraná River, Argentina. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 291:118168. [PMID: 34536647 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic in the environment is considered an emerging pollutant of global concern. In spite of intensive research, many questions remain open, such as the processes that drive the deposition and remobilization of plastic debris on river beaches. The objectives of this study were: i) to analyze the influence of the natural hydrological fluctuations and wind intensity on the distribution of mesoplastic (0.5-2.5 cm) and macroplastic (>2.5 cm) debris in beach sediments of a large river, ii) to describe the type of plastic debris found and iii) to explore potential relations between the number of items and weight of macro- and mesoplastics. Our results suggest that, during lowering water levels, flow removes the plastic debris and transports it further downstream. Conversely, when the beach sediments remain exposed during long periods, the plastic debris accumulates considerably. Nevertheless, the influence of wind intensity on plastic debris transport was comparatively negligible. In other words, in our study the water flow had a greater capacity to remobilize and transport plastic debris than the wind. The most abundant mesoplastic items were foam, hard plastic, film and small fragments of fishing line. The dominant macroplastic items recorded were pieces of fishing line (nylon) and cigarette filters (cellulose acetate), typically discarded by beach users. Other items found in large quantities were soft packaging elements (expanded polystyrene), hard plastic containers (polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate) and beverage bottles (polyethylene terephthalate), typical items of domestic use in the Paraná River region. Finally, we found that the density of macroplastic items is highly correlated to the density of mesoplastic items, serving as surrogate for further estimations. Our results could help to develop better mitigation strategies in seasonal riverscapes, based on the influence of the hydrological cycle and the characteristics of the most abundant meso- and macroplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Garello
- The National Institute of Limnology (INALI; CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Martín C M Blettler
- The National Institute of Limnology (INALI; CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Luis A Espínola
- The National Institute of Limnology (INALI; CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Karl M Wantzen
- UNESCO Chair River Culture, UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES, University of Tours, and CNRS UMR LIVE, Strasbourg University, France.
| | - Daniel González-Fernández
- Department of Biology, Institute of Marine Research, University of Cádiz and European University of the Seas, Puerto Real, Spain.
| | - Stephane Rodrigues
- UMR 7324 CNRS CITERES and Graduate School of Engineering Polytech Tours, University of Tours, France.
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17
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Advancing Floating Macroplastic Detection from Space Using Experimental Hyperspectral Imagery. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13122335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Airborne and spaceborne remote sensing (RS) collecting hyperspectral imagery provides unprecedented opportunities for the detection and monitoring of floating riverine and marine plastic debris. However, a major challenge in the application of RS techniques is the lack of a fundamental understanding of spectral signatures of water-borne plastic debris. Recent work has emphasised the case for open-access hyperspectral reflectance reference libraries of commonly used polymer items. In this paper, we present and analyse a high-resolution hyperspectral image database of a unique mix of 40 virgin macroplastic items and vegetation. Our double camera setup covered the visible to shortwave infrared (VIS-SWIR) range from 400 to 1700 nm in a darkroom experiment with controlled illumination. The cameras scanned the samples floating in water and captured high-resolution images in 336 spectral bands. Using the resulting reflectance spectra of 1.89 million pixels in linear discriminant analyses (LDA), we determined the importance of each spectral band for discriminating between water and mixed floating debris, and vegetation and plastics. The absorption peaks of plastics (1215 nm, 1410 nm) and vegetation (710 nm, 1450 nm) are associated with high LDA weights. We then compared Sentinel-2 and Worldview-3 satellite bands with these outcomes and identified 12 satellite bands to overlap with important wavelengths for discrimination between the classes. Lastly, the Normalised Vegetation Difference Index (NDVI) and Floating Debris Index (FDI) were calculated to determine why they work, and how they could potentially be improved. These findings could be used to enhance existing efforts in monitoring macroplastic pollution, as well as form a baseline for the design of future multispectral RS systems.
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