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Cózar A, Arias M, Suaria G, Viejo J, Aliani S, Koutroulis A, Delaney J, Bonnery G, Macías D, de Vries R, Sumerot R, Morales-Caselles C, Turiel A, González-Fernández D, Corradi P. Proof of concept for a new sensor to monitor marine litter from space. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4637. [PMID: 38877039 PMCID: PMC11178853 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48674-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, governments are implementing strategies to combat marine litter. However, their effectiveness is largely unknown because we lack tools to systematically monitor marine litter over broad spatio-temporal scales. Metre-sized aggregations of floating debris generated by sea-surface convergence lines have been reported as a reliable target for detection from satellites. Yet, the usefulness of such ephemeral, scattered aggregations as proxy for sustained, large-scale monitoring of marine litter remains an open question for a dedicated Earth-Observation mission. Here, we track this proxy over a series of 300,000 satellite images of the entire Mediterranean Sea. The proxy is mainly related to recent inputs from land-based litter sources. Despite the limitations of in-orbit technology, satellite detections are sufficient to map hot-spots and capture trends, providing an unprecedented source-to-sink view of the marine litter phenomenon. Torrential rains largely control marine litter inputs, while coastal boundary currents and wind-driven surface sweep arise as key drivers for its distribution over the ocean. Satellite-based monitoring proves to be a real game changer for marine litter research and management. Furthermore, the development of an ad-hoc sensor can lower the minimum detectable concentration by one order of magnitude, ensuring operational monitoring, at least for seasonal-to-interannual variability in the mesoscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Cózar
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Puerto Real, Spain.
| | - Manuel Arias
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona Expert Center, Barcelona, Spain.
- ARGANS France, Sophia-Antipolis, cedex, France.
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Giuseppe Suaria
- Istituto di Scienze Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAR-CNR), Lerici, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Josué Viejo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Stefano Aliani
- Istituto di Scienze Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAR-CNR), Lerici, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Aristeidis Koutroulis
- Technical University of Crete, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Chania, Greece
| | | | | | - Diego Macías
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | | | | | - Carmen Morales-Caselles
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Antonio Turiel
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona Expert Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel González-Fernández
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz and European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Paolo Corradi
- European Space Agency - ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
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Hong P, Xiao J, Liu H, Niu Z, Ma Y, Wang Q, Zhang D, Ma Y. An inversion model of microplastics abundance based on satellite remote sensing: a case study in the Bohai Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168537. [PMID: 37979861 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, microplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have posed great risks to marine ecosystems and human health. However, non-continuous field sampling data makes it difficult to meet the needs of scientific research and pollution control of marine MPs. Consequently, the development of rapid monitoring techniques for marine MPs to achieve efficient acquisition of data is increasingly essential. Remote sensing technology provides a convenient and effective tool for monitoring and mapping marine MPs pollution. Therefore, we established an inversion model based on multiple regression by combining the remote sensing data and the measured data to predict the MPs pollution status in the Bohai Sea. The feature variables of a model are crucial to the prediction, and we proposed three methods of variable selection, namely successive projections algorithm (SPA), band combination method, and remote sensing index method. By comparing accuracy evaluation metrics, an approach based on SPA was selected to analyze the abundance and spatio-temporal distribution of MPs in the Bohai Sea in 2022. The determination coefficient of the SPA model is 0.75, and the root mean square error is 0.38 items/m3. The error of the model is within an acceptable range. It was found that the MPs abundance on the sea surface of the Bohai Sea varied significantly in different seasons and regions. This study indicates that satellite remote sensing technology has great potential in monitoring marine MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Hong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jingen Xiao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zhiguang Niu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yini Ma
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Dianjun Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Yongzheng Ma
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Research and Service, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Sullivan E, Cole M, Atwood EC, Lindeque PK, Chin PT, Martinez-Vicente V. In situ correlation between microplastic and suspended particulate matter concentrations in river-estuary systems support proxies for satellite-derived estimates of microplastic flux. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115529. [PMID: 37776743 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115529] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are key pathways for transporting microplastics from land to the oceans, yet microplastic flux estimates remain uncertain. Remote sensing allows repeated broad-scale measurements and can be used to extrapolate limited in situ observations. This study investigated the relationship between suspended particulate matter (SPM), a satellite-observable water quality parameter, and microplastic concentration in a partially mixed estuary (Tamar, UK). Microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.99 microplastics/m3, decreasing downstream. A significant correlation was found between SPM and microplastic concentration over two seasons. This relationship was used to compute a multiyear timeseries of proxy microplastic concentration from satellite imagery and produce estimates of annual proxy microplastic flux. This approach could be applied to investigate microplastic flux in other major rivers worldwide where such a relationship between microplastics and SPM exists. To apply this workflow elsewhere, the establishment of local SPM-to-microplastic relationships from in situ observations and local validation of remote sensing SPM algorithms are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Sullivan
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Matthew Cole
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Elizabeth C Atwood
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Penelope K Lindeque
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Pham Thi Chin
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Da Nang, Viet Nam
| | - Victor Martinez-Vicente
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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4
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Andriolo U, Topouzelis K, van Emmerik THM, Papakonstantinou A, Monteiro JG, Isobe A, Hidaka M, Kako S, Kataoka T, Gonçalves G. Drones for litter monitoring on coasts and rivers: suitable flight altitude and image resolution. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115521. [PMID: 37714078 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Multirotor drones can be efficiently used to monitor macro-litter in coastal and riverine environments. Litter on beaches, dunes and riverbanks, along with floating litter on coastal and river waters, can be spotted and mapped from aerial drone images. Items detection and classification are prone to image resolution, which is expressed in terms of Ground Sampling Distance (GSD). The GSD is determined by drone flight altitude and camera properties. This paper investigates what is a suitable GSD value for litter survey. Drone flight altitude and camera setup should be chosen to obtain a GSD between 0.5 cm/px and 1.25 cm/px. Within this range, the lowest GSD allows litter categorization and classification, whereas the highest value should be adopted for a coarser litter census. In the vision of drawing up a global protocol for drone-based litter surveys, this work sets the ground for homogenizing data collection and litter assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Andriolo
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | | | - Tim H M van Emmerik
- Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - João Gama Monteiro
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI), Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidade da Madeira, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
| | - Atsuhiko Isobe
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Kasuga, Japan.
| | - Mitsuko Hidaka
- Research Institute for Value-Added-Information Generation (VAiG), Japan Agency for Marine - Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokohama, Japan; Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Engineering, Ocean Civil Engineering Program, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
| | - Shin'ichiro Kako
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Engineering, Ocean Civil Engineering Program, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
| | - Tomoya Kataoka
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.
| | - Gil Gonçalves
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Mathematics, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Chen Z, Li G, Bowen M, Coco G. Retention of buoyant plastic in a well-mixed estuary due to tides, river discharge and winds. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115395. [PMID: 37639863 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115395] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries can act as plastic retention hotspots, but the hydrodynamic controls on retention are not well understood. This study investigates the retention of river-sourced buoyant plastics in a well-mixed estuary, the Waitematā Estuary, using validated numerical simulations of floats with different tides, winds, and freshwater discharge. The proportion of floats grounded on the shore in all seven simulations is higher than 60 % and over 90 % in five simulations after ten days. <20 % of the floats leave the estuarine mouth in any of the simulations. An increase of two orders of magnitude in freshwater discharge doubles the likelihood for floats to reach the lower estuary. However, we find increased freshwater discharge doubles the lateral circulation towards the shore and results in similar proportions of grounding (90 %) as the low discharge cases. These findings challenge the conventional view that plastics preferentially enter the open ocean after high river discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Chen
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Gaoyang Li
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Melissa Bowen
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Giovanni Coco
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Andriolo U, Gonçalves G. The octopus pot on the North Atlantic Iberian coast: A plague of plastic on beaches and dunes. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115099. [PMID: 37267867 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This baseline focuses on the octopus pot, a litter item found on the North Atlantic Iberian coast. Octopus pots are deployed from vessels in ropes, with several hundred units, and placed on the seabed, to capture mostly Octopus Vulgaris. The loss of gears due to extreme seas state, bad weather and/or fishing-related unforeseen circumstances, cause the octopus pots contaminating beaches and dunes, where they are transported by sea current, waves and wind actions. This work i) gives an overview of the use of octopus pot on fisheries, ii) analyses the spatial distribution of this item on the coast, and iii) discusses the potential measures for tackling the octopus pot plague on the North Atlantic Iberian coast. Overall, it is urgent to promote conducive policies and strategies for a sustainable waste management of octopus pots, based on Reduce, Reuse and Recycle hierarchical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Andriolo
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290 Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Gil Gonçalves
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Mathematics, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Mohsen A, Kiss T, Kovács F. Machine learning-based detection and mapping of riverine litter utilizing Sentinel-2 imagery. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:67742-67757. [PMID: 37118393 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite the substantial impact of rivers on the global marine litter problem, riverine litter has been accorded inadequate consideration. Therefore, our objective was to detect riverine litter by utilizing middle-scale multispectral satellite images and machine learning (ML), with the Tisza River (Hungary) as a study area. The Very High Resolution (VHR) images obtained from the Google Earth database were employed to recognize some riverine litter spots (a blend of anthropogenic and natural substances). These litter spots served as the basis for training and validating five supervised machine-learning algorithms based on Sentinel-2 images [Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Random Forest (RF), Naïve Bays (NB) and Decision Tree (DT)]. To evaluate the generalization capability of the developed models, they were tested on larger unseen data under varying hydrological conditions and with different litter sizes. Besides the best-performing model was used to investigate the spatio-temporal variations of riverine litter in the Middel Tisza. According to the results, almost all the developed models showed favorable metrics based on the validation dataset (e.g., F1-score; SVC: 0.94, ANN: 0.93, RF: 0.91, DT: 0.90, and NB: 0.83); however, during the testing process, they showed medium (e.g., F1-score; RF:0.69, SVC: 0.62; ANN: 0.62) to poor performance (e.g., F1-score; NB: 0.48; DT: 0.45). The capability of all models to detect litter was bounded to the pixel size of the Sentinel-2 images. Based on the spatio-temporal investigation, hydraulic structures (e.g., Kisköre Dam) are the greatest litter accumulation spots. Although the highest transport rate of litter occurs during floods, the largest litter spot area upstream of the Kisköre Dam was observed at low stages in summer. This study represents a preliminary step in the automatic detection of riverine litter; therefore, additional research incorporating a larger dataset with more representative small litter spots, as well as finer spatial resolution images is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mohsen
- Department of Geoinformatics, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Szeged, Egyetem u. 2-6, Szeged, 6722, Hungary
- Department of Irrigation and Hydraulics Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, 31512, Egypt
| | - Tímea Kiss
- Department of Geoinformatics, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Szeged, Egyetem u. 2-6, Szeged, 6722, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Kovács
- Department of Geoinformatics, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Szeged, Egyetem u. 2-6, Szeged, 6722, Hungary.
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Booth H, Ma W, Karakuş O. High-precision density mapping of marine debris and floating plastics via satellite imagery. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6822. [PMID: 37100793 PMCID: PMC10133222 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The last couple of years has been ground-breaking for marine pollution monitoring purposes. It has been suggested that combining multi-spectral satellite information and machine learning approaches are effective to monitor plastic pollutants in the ocean environment. Recent research has made theoretical progress in identifying marine debris and suspected plastic (MD&SP) through machine learning whereas no study has fully explored the application of these methods for mapping and monitoring marine debris density. Therefore, this article consists of three main components: (1) the development and validation of a supervised machine learning marine debris detection model, (2) to map the MD&SP density into an automated tool called MAP-Mapper and finally (3) evaluation of the entire system for out-of-distribution (OOD) test locations. Developed MAP-Mapper architectures provide users with options to achieve high precision (abbv. -HP) or optimum precision-recall (abbv. -Opt) values in terms of training/test dataset. Our MAP-Mapper-HP model greatly increases the MD&SP detection precision to 95%, while the MAP-Mapper-Opt achieves 87-88% precision-recall pair. To efficiently measure density mapping findings at OOD test locations, we propose the Marine Debris Map (MDM) index, which combines the average probability of a pixel belonging to the MD&SP class and the number of detections in a given time frame. The high MDM findings of the proposed approach are found to be consistent with existing marine litter and plastic pollution areas, and these are presented with available evidence citing literature and field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Booth
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Abacws, Cardiff, CF24 4AG, UK
- Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 3PB, UK
| | - Wanli Ma
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Abacws, Cardiff, CF24 4AG, UK
| | - Oktay Karakuş
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Abacws, Cardiff, CF24 4AG, UK.
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Landrigan PJ, Raps H, Cropper M, Bald C, Brunner M, Canonizado EM, Charles D, Chiles TC, Donohue MJ, Enck J, Fenichel P, Fleming LE, Ferrier-Pages C, Fordham R, Gozt A, Griffin C, Hahn ME, Haryanto B, Hixson R, Ianelli H, James BD, Kumar P, Laborde A, Law KL, Martin K, Mu J, Mulders Y, Mustapha A, Niu J, Pahl S, Park Y, Pedrotti ML, Pitt JA, Ruchirawat M, Seewoo BJ, Spring M, Stegeman JJ, Suk W, Symeonides C, Takada H, Thompson RC, Vicini A, Wang Z, Whitman E, Wirth D, Wolff M, Yousuf AK, Dunlop S. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:23. [PMID: 36969097 PMCID: PMC10038118 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances of modern civilization in fields as diverse as medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, and sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth's environment. These harms occur at every stage of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of the coal, oil, and gas that are its main feedstocks through to ultimate disposal into the environment. The extent of these harms not been systematically assessed, their magnitude not fully quantified, and their economic costs not comprehensively counted. Goals The goals of this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health are to comprehensively examine plastics' impacts across their life cycle on: (1) human health and well-being; (2) the global environment, especially the ocean; (3) the economy; and (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, and the world's children. On the basis of this examination, the Commission offers science-based recommendations designed to support development of a Global Plastics Treaty, protect human health, and save lives. Report Structure This Commission report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents a narrative review of the processes involved in plastic production, use, and disposal and notes the hazards to human health and the environment associated with each of these stages. Section 3 describes plastics' impacts on the ocean and notes the potential for plastic in the ocean to enter the marine food web and result in human exposure. Section 4 details plastics' impacts on human health. Section 5 presents a first-order estimate of plastics' health-related economic costs. Section 6 examines the intersection between plastic, social inequity, and environmental injustice. Section 7 presents the Commission's findings and recommendations. Plastics Plastics are complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% of plastics are produced from fossil carbon- coal, oil and gas. Plastics are comprised of a carbon-based polymer backbone and thousands of additional chemicals that are incorporated into polymers to convey specific properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, and ultraviolet resistance. Many of these added chemicals are highly toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, bisphenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, and organophosphate flame retardants. They are integral components of plastic and are responsible for many of plastics' harms to human health and the environment.Global plastic production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, and in this time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) of plastic have been manufactured. Annual production volume has grown from under 2 Mt in 1950 to 460 Mt in 2019, a 230-fold increase, and is on track to triple by 2060. More than half of all plastic ever made has been produced since 2002. Single-use plastics account for 35-40% of current plastic production and represent the most rapidly growing segment of plastic manufacture.Explosive recent growth in plastics production reflects a deliberate pivot by the integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations that produce coal, oil and gas and that also manufacture plastics. These corporations are reducing their production of fossil fuels and increasing plastics manufacture. The two principal factors responsible for this pivot are decreasing global demand for carbon-based fuels due to increases in 'green' energy, and massive expansion of oil and gas production due to fracking.Plastic manufacture is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to climate change. At present, plastic production is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the contribution of Brazil. This fraction is projected to increase to 4.5% by 2060 if current trends continue unchecked. Plastic Life Cycle The plastic life cycle has three phases: production, use, and disposal. In production, carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, and oil-are transformed through energy-intensive, catalytic processes into a vast array of products. Plastic use occurs in every aspect of modern life and results in widespread human exposure to the chemicals contained in plastic. Single-use plastics constitute the largest portion of current use, followed by synthetic fibers and construction.Plastic disposal is highly inefficient, with recovery and recycling rates below 10% globally. The result is that an estimated 22 Mt of plastic waste enters the environment each year, much of it single-use plastic and are added to the more than 6 gigatons of plastic waste that have accumulated since 1950. Strategies for disposal of plastic waste include controlled and uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, and export. Vast quantities of plastic waste are exported each year from high-income to low-income countries, where it accumulates in landfills, pollutes air and water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches and estuaries, and harms human health-environmental injustice on a global scale. Plastic-laden e-waste is particularly problematic. Environmental Findings Plastics and plastic-associated chemicals are responsible for widespread pollution. They contaminate aquatic (marine and freshwater), terrestrial, and atmospheric environments globally. The ocean is the ultimate destination for much plastic, and plastics are found throughout the ocean, including coastal regions, the sea surface, the deep sea, and polar sea ice. Many plastics appear to resist breakdown in the ocean and could persist in the global environment for decades. Macro- and micro-plastic particles have been identified in hundreds of marine species in all major taxa, including species consumed by humans. Trophic transfer of microplastic particles and the chemicals within them has been demonstrated. Although microplastic particles themselves (>10 µm) appear not to undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic plastic-associated chemicals bioaccumulate in marine animals and biomagnify in marine food webs. The amounts and fates of smaller microplastic and nanoplastic particles (MNPs <10 µm) in aquatic environments are poorly understood, but the potential for harm is worrying given their mobility in biological systems. Adverse environmental impacts of plastic pollution occur at multiple levels from molecular and biochemical to population and ecosystem. MNP contamination of seafood results in direct, though not well quantified, human exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. Marine plastic pollution endangers the ocean ecosystems upon which all humanity depends for food, oxygen, livelihood, and well-being. Human Health Findings Coal miners, oil workers and gas field workers who extract fossil carbon feedstocks for plastic production suffer increased mortality from traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Plastic production workers are at increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, neurotoxic injury, and decreased fertility. Workers producing plastic textiles die of bladder cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and interstitial lung disease at increased rates. Plastic recycling workers have increased rates of cardiovascular disease, toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, and lung cancer. Residents of "fenceline" communities adjacent to plastic production and waste disposal sites experience increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood leukemia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.During use and also in disposal, plastics release toxic chemicals including additives and residual monomers into the environment and into people. National biomonitoring surveys in the USA document population-wide exposures to these chemicals. Plastic additives disrupt endocrine function and increase risk for premature births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive birth defects, infertility, obesity, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed through the environmental degradation of plastic waste can enter living organisms, including humans. Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates that MNPs may cause toxicity due to their physical and toxicological effects as well as by acting as vectors that transport toxic chemicals and bacterial pathogens into tissues and cells.Infants in the womb and young children are two populations at particularly high risk of plastic-related health effects. Because of the exquisite sensitivity of early development to hazardous chemicals and children's unique patterns of exposure, plastic-associated exposures are linked to increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer. Early-life exposures to plastic-associated chemicals also increase the risk of multiple non-communicable diseases later in life. Economic Findings Plastic's harms to human health result in significant economic costs. We estimate that in 2015 the health-related costs of plastic production exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, and that in the USA alone the health costs of disease and disability caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP exceeded $920 billion (2015 Int$). Plastic production results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to 1.96 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) social cost of carbon metric, we estimate the annual costs of these GHG emissions to be $341 billion (2015 Int$).These costs, large as they are, almost certainly underestimate the full economic losses resulting from plastics' negative impacts on human health and the global environment. All of plastics' economic costs-and also its social costs-are externalized by the petrochemical and plastic manufacturing industry and are borne by citizens, taxpayers, and governments in countries around the world without compensation. Social Justice Findings The adverse effects of plastics and plastic pollution on human health, the economy and the environment are not evenly distributed. They disproportionately affect poor, disempowered, and marginalized populations such as workers, racial and ethnic minorities, "fenceline" communities, Indigenous groups, women, and children, all of whom had little to do with creating the current plastics crisis and lack the political influence or the resources to address it. Plastics' harmful impacts across its life cycle are most keenly felt in the Global South, in small island states, and in disenfranchised areas in the Global North. Social and environmental justice (SEJ) principles require reversal of these inequitable burdens to ensure that no group bears a disproportionate share of plastics' negative impacts and that those who benefit economically from plastic bear their fair share of its currently externalized costs. Conclusions It is now clear that current patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harms to human health, the environment, and the economy as well as for deep societal injustices.The main driver of these worsening harms is an almost exponential and still accelerating increase in global plastic production. Plastics' harms are further magnified by low rates of recovery and recycling and by the long persistence of plastic waste in the environment.The thousands of chemicals in plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, and non-intentionally added substances-include amongst their number known human carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals are responsible for many of plastics' known harms to human and planetary health. The chemicals leach out of plastics, enter the environment, cause pollution, and result in human exposure and disease. All efforts to reduce plastics' hazards must address the hazards of plastic-associated chemicals. Recommendations To protect human and planetary health, especially the health of vulnerable and at-risk populations, and put the world on track to end plastic pollution by 2040, this Commission supports urgent adoption by the world's nations of a strong and comprehensive Global Plastics Treaty in accord with the mandate set forth in the March 2022 resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures such as a Global Plastics Treaty are needed to curb plastic production and pollution, because the harms to human health and the environment caused by plastics, plastic-associated chemicals and plastic waste transcend national boundaries, are planetary in their scale, and have disproportionate impacts on the health and well-being of people in the world's poorest nations. Effective implementation of the Global Plastics Treaty will require that international action be coordinated and complemented by interventions at the national, regional, and local levels.This Commission urges that a cap on global plastic production with targets, timetables, and national contributions be a central provision of the Global Plastics Treaty. We recommend inclusion of the following additional provisions:The Treaty needs to extend beyond microplastics and marine litter to include all of the many thousands of chemicals incorporated into plastics.The Treaty needs to include a provision banning or severely restricting manufacture and use of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic items, especially single-use items such as manufactured plastic microbeads.The Treaty needs to include requirements on extended producer responsibility (EPR) that make fossil carbon producers, plastic producers, and the manufacturers of plastic products legally and financially responsible for the safety and end-of-life management of all the materials they produce and sell.The Treaty needs to mandate reductions in the chemical complexity of plastic products; health-protective standards for plastics and plastic additives; a requirement for use of sustainable non-toxic materials; full disclosure of all components; and traceability of components. International cooperation will be essential to implementing and enforcing these standards.The Treaty needs to include SEJ remedies at each stage of the plastic life cycle designed to fill gaps in community knowledge and advance both distributional and procedural equity.This Commission encourages inclusion in the Global Plastic Treaty of a provision calling for exploration of listing at least some plastic polymers as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.This Commission encourages a strong interface between the Global Plastics Treaty and the Basel and London Conventions to enhance management of hazardous plastic waste and slow current massive exports of plastic waste into the world's least-developed countries.This Commission recommends the creation of a Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body to guide the Treaty's implementation. The main priorities of this Body would be to guide Member States and other stakeholders in evaluating which solutions are most effective in reducing plastic consumption, enhancing plastic waste recovery and recycling, and curbing the generation of plastic waste. This Body could also assess trade-offs among these solutions and evaluate safer alternatives to current plastics. It could monitor the transnational export of plastic waste. It could coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, and air-based MNP monitoring programs.This Commission recommends urgent investment by national governments in research into solutions to the global plastic crisis. This research will need to determine which solutions are most effective and cost-effective in the context of particular countries and assess the risks and benefits of proposed solutions. Oceanographic and environmental research is needed to better measure concentrations and impacts of plastics <10 µm and understand their distribution and fate in the global environment. Biomedical research is needed to elucidate the human health impacts of plastics, especially MNPs. Summary This Commission finds that plastics are both a boon to humanity and a stealth threat to human and planetary health. Plastics convey enormous benefits, but current linear patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal that pay little attention to sustainable design or safe materials and a near absence of recovery, reuse, and recycling are responsible for grave harms to health, widespread environmental damage, great economic costs, and deep societal injustices. These harms are rapidly worsening.While there remain gaps in knowledge about plastics' harms and uncertainties about their full magnitude, the evidence available today demonstrates unequivocally that these impacts are great and that they will increase in severity in the absence of urgent and effective intervention at global scale. Manufacture and use of essential plastics may continue. However, reckless increases in plastic production, and especially increases in the manufacture of an ever-increasing array of unnecessary single-use plastic products, need to be curbed.Global intervention against the plastic crisis is needed now because the costs of failure to act will be immense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Landrigan
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Maureen Cropper
- Economics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, US
| | - Caroline Bald
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Fenichel
- Université Côte d’Azur
- Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Nice, FR
| | - Lora E. Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | | | | | | | - Carly Griffin
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, US
| | - Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Richard Hixson
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Hannah Ianelli
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Bryan D. James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | - Amalia Laborde
- Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, UY
| | | | - Keith Martin
- Consortium of Universities for Global Health, US
| | - Jenna Mu
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | - Adetoun Mustapha
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
- Lead City University, NG
| | - Jia Niu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, US
| | - Sabine Pahl
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Maria-Luiza Pedrotti
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), Sorbonne Université, FR
| | | | | | - Bhedita Jaya Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
| | | | - John J. Stegeman
- Biology Department and Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - William Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US
| | | | - Hideshige Takada
- Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JP
| | | | | | - Zhanyun Wang
- Technology and Society Laboratory, WEmpa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials and Technology, CH
| | - Ella Whitman
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | - Aroub K. Yousuf
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Sarah Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
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10
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Wu H, Hou J, Wang X. A review of microplastic pollution in aquaculture: Sources, effects, removal strategies and prospects. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 252:114567. [PMID: 36706522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As microplastic pollution has become an emerging environmental issue of global concern, microplastics in aquaculture have become a research hotspot. For environmental safety, economic efficiency and food safety considerations, a comprehensive understanding of microplastic pollution in aquaculture is necessary. This review outlines an overview of sources and effects of microplastics in aquaculture. External environmental inputs and aquaculture processes are sources of microplastics in aquaculture. Microplastics may release harmful additives and adsorb pollutants in aquaculture environment, cause deterioration of aquaculture environment, as well as cause toxicological effects, affect the behavior, growth and reproduction of aquaculture products, ultimately reducing the economic benefits of aquaculture. Microplastics entering the human body through aquaculture products also pose potential health risks at multiple levels. Microplastic pollution removal strategies used in aquaculture in various countries are also reviewed. Ecological interception and purification are considered to be effective methods. In addition, strengthening aquaculture management and improving fishing gear and packaging are also currently feasible solutions. As proactive measures, new portable microplastic monitoring system and remote sensing technology are considered to have broad application prospects. And it was encouraged to comprehensively strengthen the supervision of microplastic pollution in aquaculture through talent exchange and strengthening the construction of laws and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haodi Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jing Hou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Xiangke Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Systems Optimization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
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11
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Effects of microplastics and surfactants on surface roughness of water waves. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1978. [PMID: 36737490 PMCID: PMC9898532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29088-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We study the flow physics underlying the recently developed remote sensing capability of detecting oceanic microplastics, which is based on the measurable surface roughness reduction induced by the presence of microplastics on the ocean surface. In particular, we are interested in whether this roughness reduction is caused by the microplastics as floating particles, or by surfactants which follow similar transport paths as microplastics. For this purpose, we experimentally test the effects of floating particles and surfactants on surface roughness, quantified by the mean square slope (MSS), with waves generated by a mechanical wave maker or by wind. For microplastics, we find that their effect on MSS critically depends on the surface area fraction of coverage. The damping by particles is observed only for fractions above O (5-10%), much higher than the realistic ocean condition. For surfactants, their damping effects on both mechanically generated waves and wind waves are quantified, which are shown to be much more significant than that by microplastics. Several new mechanisms/relations for roughness damping by surfactants are also identified. The implications of these experimental results to remote sensing are discussed.
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12
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Satellite monitoring of terrestrial plastic waste. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278997. [PMID: 36652417 PMCID: PMC9847976 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste is a significant environmental pollutant that is difficult to monitor. We created a system of neural networks to analyze spectral, spatial, and temporal components of Sentinel-2 satellite data to identify terrestrial aggregations of waste. The system works at wide geographic scale, finding waste sites in twelve countries across Southeast Asia. We evaluated performance in Indonesia and detected 374 waste aggregations, more than double the number of sites found in public databases. The same system deployed in Southeast Asia identifies 996 subsequently confirmed waste sites. For each detected site, we algorithmically monitor waste site footprints through time and cross-reference other datasets to generate physical and social metadata. 19% of detected waste sites are located within 200 m of a waterway. Numerous sites sit directly on riverbanks, with high risk of ocean leakage.
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13
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Gonçalves G, Andriolo U, Gonçalves LMS, Sobral P, Bessa F. Beach litter survey by drones: Mini-review and discussion of a potential standardization. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 315:120370. [PMID: 36216177 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The abundance of beach litter has been increasing globally during the last decades, and it is an issue of global concern. A new survey strategy, based on uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV, aka drones), has been recently adopted to improve the monitoring of beach macro-litter items abundance and distribution. This work identified and analysed the 15 studies that used drone for beach litter surveys on an operational basis. The analysis of technical parameters for drone flight deployment revealed that flight altitude varied between 5 and 40 m. The analysis of final assessments showed that, through manual and/or automated items detection on images, most of studies provided litter bulk characteristics (type, material and size), along with litter distribution maps. The potential standardization of drone-based litter survey would allow a comparison among surveys, however it seems difficult to propose a standard set of flight parameters, given the wide variety of coastal environments, the different devices available, and the diverse objectives of drone-based litter surveys. On the other hand, in our view, a set of common outcomes can be proposed, based on the grid mapping process, which can be easily generated following the procedure indicated in the paper. This work sets the ground for the development of a standardized protocol for drone litter data collection, analysis and assessments. This would allow the provision of broad scale comparative studies to support coastal management at both national and international scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Gonçalves
- University of Coimbra, Department of Mathematics, Coimbra, Portugal; INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Umberto Andriolo
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Luísa M S Gonçalves
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290, Coimbra, Portugal; School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic of Leiria, Nova IMS University Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Paula Sobral
- MARE- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Filipa Bessa
- University of Coimbra, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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14
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Escobar-Sánchez G, Markfort G, Berghald M, Ritzenhofen L, Schernewski G. Aerial and underwater drones for marine litter monitoring in shallow coastal waters: factors influencing item detection and cost-efficiency. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:863. [PMID: 36219322 PMCID: PMC9553762 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10519-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Although marine litter monitoring has increased over the years, the pollution of coastal waters is still understudied and there is a need for spatial and temporal data. Aerial (UAV) and underwater (ROV) drones have demonstrated their potential as monitoring tools at coastal sites; however, suitable conditions for use and cost-efficiency of the methods still need attention. This study tested UAVs and ROVs for the monitoring of floating, submerged, and seafloor items using artificial plastic plates and assessed the influence of water conditions (water transparency, color, depth, bottom substrate), item characteristics (color and size), and method settings (flight/dive height) on detection accuracy. A cost-efficiency analysis suggests that both UAV and ROV methods lie within the same cost and efficiency category as current on-boat observation and scuba diving methods and shall be considered for further testing in real scenarios for official marine litter monitoring methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Escobar-Sánchez
- Coastal Research and Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Seestraße 15, 18119, Warnemünde, Germany.
- Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University, Universiteto ave. 17, 92294, Klaipeda, Lithuania.
| | - Greta Markfort
- Coastal Research and Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Seestraße 15, 18119, Warnemünde, Germany
| | - Mareike Berghald
- Coastal Research and Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Seestraße 15, 18119, Warnemünde, Germany
| | - Lukas Ritzenhofen
- Coastal Research and Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Seestraße 15, 18119, Warnemünde, Germany
- Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University, Universiteto ave. 17, 92294, Klaipeda, Lithuania
| | - Gerald Schernewski
- Coastal Research and Management Group, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Seestraße 15, 18119, Warnemünde, Germany
- Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University, Universiteto ave. 17, 92294, Klaipeda, Lithuania
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15
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Hu C. Remote detection of marine debris using Sentinel-2 imagery: A cautious note on spectral interpretations. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 183:114082. [PMID: 36067679 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Remote detection of marine debris (also called marine litter) has received increased attention in the past decade, with the Multispectral Instruments (MSI) onboard the Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B satellites being the most used sensors. However, because of their mixed band resolutions and small sub-pixel coverage of debris within a pixel (e.g., <10 %), caution is required when interpreting the spectral shapes of MSI pixels. Otherwise, the spectrally distorted shapes may be misused as spectral endmembers (signatures) or interpreted as from certain types of floating matters. Here, using simulations and MSI data, I show the origin of the spectral distortions and emphasize why both pixel averaging and pixel subtraction are critical in algorithm design and spectral interpretation for the purpose of remote detection of marine debris using Sentinel-2 MSI sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanmin Hu
- University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue, South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
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16
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Using a UAV Thermal Infrared Camera for Monitoring Floating Marine Plastic Litter. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14133179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the remote sensing of marine plastic litter has been rapidly evolving and the technology is most advanced in the visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths. It has become clear that sensing using VIS-SWIR bands, based on the surface reflectance of sunlight, would benefit from complementary measurements using different technologies. Thermal infrared (TIR) sensing shows potential as a novel method for monitoring macro plastic litter floating on the water surface, as the physics behind surface-leaving TIR is different. We assessed a thermal radiance model for floating plastic litter using a small UAV-grade FLIR Vue Pro R 640 thermal camera by flying it over controlled floating plastic litter targets during the day and night and in different seasons. Experiments in the laboratory supported the field measurements. We investigated the effects of environmental conditions, such as temperatures, light intensity, the presence of clouds, and biofouling. TIR sensing could complement observations from VIS, NIR, and SWIR in several valuable ways. For example, TIR sensing could be used for monitoring during the night, to detect plastics invisible to VIS-SWIR, to discriminate whitecaps from marine litter, and to detect litter pollution over clear, shallow waters. In this study, we have shown the previously unconfirmed potential of using TIR sensing for monitoring floating plastic litter.
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Isobe A, Iwasaki S. The fate of missing ocean plastics: Are they just a marine environmental problem? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:153935. [PMID: 35192833 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The fate of mismanaged plastic waste released into oceans (ocean plastics) remains a topic of debate, where the mass imbalance between the leakage and abundance in the world's oceans appears paradoxical. In the present study, a budget for ocean plastic mass was estimated based on a combination of numerical particle tracking and linear mass-balance models, both validated using a worldwide ocean plastic dataset. Integrating the time series of worldwide macroplastic emission from both rivers and the fisheries industry over the period 1961-2017 yielded a total mass of 25.3 million metric tonnes (MMT). Macro- and microplastics currently floating in the oceans, and microplastics on beaches, each account for 3-4% of the ocean plastics emitted worldwide to date. Overall, 23.4% of ocean plastics were macroplastics on beaches. Meanwhile, 66.7% of ocean plastics were heavier than seawater or microplastics removed from the upper ocean and beaches, which are difficult to monitor under current observation frameworks adopted worldwide. However, the present study on ocean plastics suggested that the whole ocean plastics accounted for only 4.7% of mismanaged plastic waste (542.2 MMT) generated between the 1960s and today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuhiko Isobe
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga 816-8580, Japan.
| | - Shinsuke Iwasaki
- Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region, Public Works Research Institute, 1-3-1-34 Toyohira, Sapporo 062-8602, Japan.
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Marine Litter Detection by Sentinel-2: A Case Study in North Adriatic (Summer 2020). REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14102409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Aggregates of floating materials detected in North Adriatic in six Sentinel-2 scenes of August 2020 have been investigated. Most of the floating materials were identified by the chlorophyll red edge and consisted of vegetal materials, probably conveyed by rivers and exchanged with the lagoons. Traces of marine litter were looked for in the spectral anomalies of the Red Edge bands, assuming changes of the red edge in pixels where marine litter was mixed with vegetal materials. About half of the detected patches were unclassified due to the weakness of the useful signal (pixel filling percentage < 25%). The classification produced 59% of vegetal materials, 16% of marine litter mixed with vegetal materials and 22% of intermediate cases. A small percentage (2%) was attributed to submerged vegetal materials, found in isolated patches. The previous percentages were obtained with a separation criterion based on arbitrary thresholds. The patches were more concentrated at the mouths of the northern rivers, less off the Venice lagoon, and very few outside the Po River, with the minimal river outflow during the period. Sentinel-2 is a valid tool for the discrimination of marine litter in aggregates of floating matter. The proposed method requires validation, and the North Adriatic is an excellent site for field work, as in summer many patches of floating matter form in proximity to the coast.
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Garaba SP, Harmel T. Top-of-atmosphere hyper and multispectral signatures of submerged plastic litter with changing water clarity and depth. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:16553-16571. [PMID: 36221496 DOI: 10.1364/oe.451415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The exploitation of satellite remote sensing is expected to be a critical asset in monitoring floating and submerged plastic litter in all aquatic environments. However, robust retrieval algorithms still havel to be developed based on a full understanding of light interaction with plastic litter and the other optically active constituents of the atmosphere-water system. To this end, we performed laboratory-based hyperspectral reflectance measurements of submerged macroplastics under varying water clarity conditions (clear - 0 mg/L, moderate - 75 mg/L, very turbid - 321.3 mg/L) and submersion depths. This comprehensive optical dataset was used (i) to relate the plastic-related signal to submersion depth and turbidity parameters, and (ii) to investigate the top-of-atmosphere signal through full radiative transfer calculations. Simulated TOA radiation was used to explore the nominal pixel and spectral requirements based on WorldView-3, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3 missions with very high to moderate geo-spatial resolutions. Results showed that plastics remained detectable when submerged in the top ∼1 m of the water column regardless of water clarity conditions. At TOA, uncertainties attached to atmospheric correction were shown to be reasonable and acceptable for plastic detection purposes in the infrared part of the spectrum (> 700 nm). The impact of aerosols on the TOA signal was found to be complex as (i) over large plastic patches. The aerosols produced little impact on satellite observations mostly due to adjacency effects and (ii) optical signature from isolated/small extent plastic patches was critically altered suggesting the atmospheric transmittance should be accurately corrected for in plastic detection algorithms. The sensitivity analyses also revealed that the narrow band widths of Sentinel-3 did not improve detection performance compared to the WorldView-3 coarser band widths. It is proposed that high spatial resolution wavebands such as the pan-chromatic could be advantageously explored for submerged plastic monitoring applications.
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Numerical Simulation of the Trajectory of Garbage Falling into the Sea at the Coastal Landfill in Northeast Taiwan. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14081251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This study used a numerical model to simulate the floating trajectory of garbage falling into the sea from the landfill near the coast of Wanghaixiang Bay in northeast Taiwan to understand its impact on the local environment. The Regional Ocean Model System was used to simulate the probability densities of the distribution of garbage drifting trajectories under scenarios of no-wind, northeast monsoon, and typhoons. The results show that, in the no-wind scenario, garbage was mainly affected by tidal currents. It moved in the northwest–southeast direction outside the bay. In the northeast monsoon scenario, garbage was forced toward the shore due to the windage effect. In typhoon scenarios, strong winds forced the garbage to the shore, as typhoons continued to advance and the wind direction kept changing, the garbage trajectory was also changed. After typhoons moved away, the drifting trajectory of the garbage was again affected by tidal currents. When the garbage falling into the sea was located in the bay or the mouth of the bay, the garbage had a higher probability of being forced into the bay by typhoons.
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Mapping riparian zone macro litter abundance using combination of optical and thermal sensor. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6081. [PMID: 35414089 PMCID: PMC9005504 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09974-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant increase in the world's population will lead to an increase in consumption and, therefore, an increase in global waste. Various attempts have been made to monitor and map waste, but the proposed approaches are difficult and complicated, and they incur high costs. In this study, to overcome limitations in monitoring and mapping plastic waste, using combined optical and thermal sensors installed on drones is proposed. The study area is the riparian zone, or the zone around the river, where the accumulation of plastic waste at the mouth of the river eventually reaches the sea. The image data obtained were processed using machine learning methods to produce high accuracy and precision. To determine the effectiveness of the proposed method, an accuracy assessment was conducted. The results of this study indicate that the combination of optical and thermal sensors provides the best accuracy compared to using only single optical or thermal image data.
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22
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Beached and Floating Litter Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Operational Analogies and Differences. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14061336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The abundance of litter pollution in the marine environment has been increasing globally. Remote sensing techniques are valuable tools to advance knowledge on litter abundance, distribution and dynamics. Images collected by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV, aka drones) are highly efficient to map and monitor local beached (BL) and floating (FL) marine litter items. In this work, the operational insights to carry out both BL and FL surveys using UAVs are detailly described. In particular, flight planning and deployment, along with image products processing and analysis, are reported and compared. Furthermore, analogies and differences between UAV-based BL and FL mapping are discussed, with focus on the challenges related to BL and FL item detection and recognition. Given the efficiency of UAV to map BL and FL, this remote sensing technique can replace traditional methods for litter monitoring, further improving the knowledge of marine litter dynamics in the marine environment. This communication aims at helping researchers in planning and performing optimized drone-based BL and FL surveys.
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Gonçalves G, Andriolo U. Operational use of multispectral images for macro-litter mapping and categorization by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113431. [PMID: 35158175 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, aka drones) has shown to be feasible to perform marine litter surveys. We operationally tested the use of multispectral images (5 bands) to classify litter type and material on a beach-dune system. For litter categorization by their multispectral characteristics, the Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) technique was adopted. The SAM-based categorization of litter agreed with the visual classification, thus multispectral images can be used to fasten and/or making more robust the manual RGB image screening. Fully automated detection returned an F-score of 0.64, and a reasonable categorization of litter. Overall, the image-based litter density maps were in line with the manual detection. Assessments were promising given the complexity of the study area, where different dunes plants and partially-buried items challenged the UAS-based litter detection. The method can be easily implemented for both floating and beached litter, to advance litter survey in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Gonçalves
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Mathematics, Apartado 3008 EC Santa Cruz, 3001 - 501 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Umberto Andriolo
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290 Coimbra, Portugal.
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24
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Kikaki K, Kakogeorgiou I, Mikeli P, Raitsos DE, Karantzalos K. MARIDA: A benchmark for Marine Debris detection from Sentinel-2 remote sensing data. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262247. [PMID: 34995337 PMCID: PMC8740969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, a significant amount of research is focused on detecting Marine Debris and assessing its spectral behaviour via remote sensing, ultimately aiming at new operational monitoring solutions. Here, we introduce a Marine Debris Archive (MARIDA), as a benchmark dataset for developing and evaluating Machine Learning (ML) algorithms capable of detecting Marine Debris. MARIDA is the first dataset based on the multispectral Sentinel-2 (S2) satellite data, which distinguishes Marine Debris from various marine features that co-exist, including Sargassum macroalgae, Ships, Natural Organic Material, Waves, Wakes, Foam, dissimilar water types (i.e., Clear, Turbid Water, Sediment-Laden Water, Shallow Water), and Clouds. We provide annotations (georeferenced polygons/ pixels) from verified plastic debris events in several geographical regions globally, during different seasons, years and sea state conditions. A detailed spectral and statistical analysis of the MARIDA dataset is presented along with well-established ML baselines for weakly supervised semantic segmentation and multi-label classification tasks. MARIDA is an open-access dataset which enables the research community to explore the spectral behaviour of certain floating materials, sea state features and water types, to develop and evaluate Marine Debris detection solutions based on artificial intelligence and deep learning architectures, as well as satellite pre-processing pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Kikaki
- Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Zografou, Greece
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Athens, Anavyssos, Greece
- * E-mail:
| | - Ioannis Kakogeorgiou
- Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Zografou, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Mikeli
- Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Zografou, Greece
| | - Dionysios E. Raitsos
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Zografou, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Karantzalos
- Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Zografou, Greece
- Athena Research Center, Athens, Greece
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Kylili K, Artusi A, Hadjistassou C. A new paradigm for estimating the prevalence of plastic litter in the marine environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113127. [PMID: 34773771 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113127] [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: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The intelligent method proposed herein is formulated on a deep learning technique which can identify, localise and map the shape of plastic debris in the marine environment. Utilising images depicting plastic litter from six beaches in Cyprus, the developed tool pointed to a plastic litter density of 0.035 items/m2. Extrapolated to the entire shorelines of the island, the intelligent approach estimated about 66,000 plastic articles weighting a total of ≈1000 kg. Besides deducing the plastic litter density, the dimensions of all documented plastic litter were determined with the aid of the OpenCV Contours image processing tool. Results revealed that the dominant object length ranged between 10 and 30 cm which is in agreement with the length of common plastic litter often spoiling these coastlines. Concluding, only in-situ visual scan sample surveys and no manual collection means were used to predict the density and the dimensions of the plastic litter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Kylili
- Department of Engineering, Marine and Carbon Lab, University of Nicosia, 46 Makedonitissas Avenue, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Alessandro Artusi
- DEepCamera MRG, CYENS Centre of Excellence, Constantinou Paleologou 1, Tryfon Building, 1011 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Constantinos Hadjistassou
- Department of Engineering, Marine and Carbon Lab, University of Nicosia, 46 Makedonitissas Avenue, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus.
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26
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Quantifying Marine Plastic Debris in a Beach Environment Using Spectral Analysis. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13224548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Marine plastic debris (MPD) is a globally relevant environmental challenge, with an estimated 8 million tons of synthetic debris entering the marine environment each year. Plastic has been found in all parts of the marine environment, including the surface layers of the ocean, within the water column, in coastal waters, on the benthic layer and on beaches. While research on detecting MPD using remote sensing is increasing, most of it focuses on detecting floating debris in open waters, rather than detecting MPD on beaches. However, beaches present challenges that are unique from other parts of the marine environment. In order to better understand the spectral properties of beached MPD, we present the SWIR reflectance of weathered MPD and virgin plastics over a sandy substrate. We conducted spectral feature analysis on the different plastic groups to better understand the impact that polymers have on our ability to detect synthetic debris at sub-pixel surface covers that occur on beaches. Our results show that the minimum surface cover required to detect MPD on a sandy surface varies between 2–8% for different polymer types. Furthermore, plastic composition affects the magnitude of spectral absorption. This suggests that variation in both surface cover and polymer type will inform the efficacy of beach litter detection methods.
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Park YJ, Garaba SP, Sainte-Rose B. Detecting the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating plastic litter using WorldView-3 satellite imagery. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:35288-35298. [PMID: 34808966 DOI: 10.1364/oe.440380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a direct and proxy-based approach to qualitatively and semi-quantitatively observe floating plastic litter in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) based on a survey in 2018 using very high geo-spatial resolution 8-waveband WorldView-3 imagery. A proxy for the plastics was defined as a waveband difference for anomalies in the top-of-the-atmosphere spectra. The anomalies were computed by subtracting spatially varying reflectance of the surrounding ocean water as background from the top-of-the-atmosphere reflectance. Spectral shapes and magnitude were also evaluated using a reference target of known plastics, The Ocean Cleanup System 001 Wilson. Presence of 'suspected plastics' was confirmed by the similarity in derived anomalies and spectral shapes with respect to the known plastics in the image as well as direct observations in the true color composites. The proposed proxy-based approach is a step towards future mapping techniques of suspected floating plastics with potential operational monitoring applications from the Sentinel-2 that recently started regular imaging over the GPGP that will be supported or validated by numerical solutions and net trawling survey.
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28
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Topouzelis K, Papageorgiou D, Suaria G, Aliani S. Floating marine litter detection algorithms and techniques using optical remote sensing data: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 170:112675. [PMID: 34225193 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Floating Marine Litter (FML) are mainly plastics or synthetic polymers that float on the sea surface after being deliberately discarded or unintentionally lost along beaches, rivers or marine environments. In recent years, much focus has been placed on locating, tracking and removing plastic items in both coastal areas and in the open ocean. The use of high-resolution multispectral satellite images for such purpose is very promising, since satellite images can systematically monitor much larger areas in comparison to the traditional in situ observations. This paper contains a literature review of the published research regarding the optical remote detection of floating marine debris and the proposed associated methodologies. The main aim of this review is to compile all available information on detection methodologies, providing at the same time valuable insights into the different approaches used for floating marine litter monitoring. First, a brief introduction into the theoretical basis of a spaceborne floating marine litter detection system is given. Next, published articles, or relevant research work have been compartmentalised, for analysing the proposed procedures and assisting in a further assessment of their methodological frameworks. Lastly, conclusions and bottlenecks of the existing knowledge on marine litter detection from space are derived. Although the remote detection of floating marine litter is currently limited by inherent restrictions of the available satellite sensors specifications, we highlight how the methodological processing chain can significantly affect the future accuracy of plastic detection from space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Topouzelis
- Department of Marine Science, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece.
| | - Dimitris Papageorgiou
- Department of Marine Science, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Giuseppe Suaria
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR) National Research Council (CNR), Forte S. Teresa, 19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici Lerici, SP, Italy
| | - Stefano Aliani
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR) National Research Council (CNR), Forte S. Teresa, 19032 Pozzuolo di Lerici Lerici, SP, Italy
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29
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Salgado-Hernanz PM, Bauzà J, Alomar C, Compa M, Romero L, Deudero S. Assessment of marine litter through remote sensing: recent approaches and future goals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112347. [PMID: 33901907 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This bibliographic review provides an overview of techniques used to detect marine litter using remote sensing. The review classified studies in terms of platform (satellite, aircrafts, drones), sensors (passive or active), spectral (visible, infrared, microwaves), spatial resolution (<1 to >30 m), type and size (macroplastics, microplastics), or classification methodology (sighting, photointerpretation, supervised). Most studies applied satellite information to address marine litter using multi- and hyper- spectral optical sensors. The correspondence analysis on analyzed variables exhibited that aircrafts with high spatial resolution (<3 m) with optical sensors (λ = 400 to 2500 nm) seem to be the most optimum combination to target marine litter, while satellites carrying Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors (λ = 3.1 to 5.6 cm) may detect sea-slicks associated to surfactants that might contain high concentration of microplastics. Gaps indicate that future goals in marine litter detection should be addressed with platforms including optical and SAR sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula M Salgado-Hernanz
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Joan Bauzà
- University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Carme Alomar
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Montserrat Compa
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Laia Romero
- Lobelia Earth, C. Marie Curie, 8-14, 08042 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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30
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Ciappa AC. Marine plastic litter detection offshore Hawai'i by Sentinel-2. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112457. [PMID: 33971458 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter patches were detected from Sentinel-2 offshore Hawaii's Big Island (Hawaii) within 10 miles from the coast in the prevalent windward direction (NE), for a total sea surface of 3.0 km2. The patches have a filament-like shape with different orientation, lengths of several kilometers and width from tens to hundreds of meters. A comparison with the typical spectra of "sargassum" and "seaweed" patches emphasized differences in the red edge portion of the spectrum for large part of the filaments. Frequency of plastic pollution on Hawaiian beaches and spectral characteristics of the filaments suggest these patches largely consist of plastic debris. A detection method of plastic litter for Sentinel-2 data resampled at 20 m resolution based on the analysis of the red edge bands is proposed.
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31
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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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32
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High-Resolution Aerial Detection of Marine Plastic Litter by Hyperspectral Sensing. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13081557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
An automatic custom-made procedure is developed to identify macroplastic debris loads in coastal and marine environment, through hyperspectral imaging from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Results obtained during a remote-sensing field campaign carried out in the seashore of Sassari (Sardinia, Italy) are presented. A push-broom-sensor-based spectral device, carried onboard a DJI Matrice 600 drone, was employed for the acquisition of spectral data in the range 900−1700 nm. The hyperspectral platform was realized by assembling commercial devices, whereas algorithms for mosaicking, post-flight georeferencing, and orthorectification of the acquired images were developed in-house. Generation of the hyperspectral cube was based on mosaicking visible-spectrum images acquired synchronously with the hyperspectral lines, by performing correlation-based registration and applying the same translations, rotations, and scale changes to the hyperspectral data. Plastics detection was based on statistically relevant feature selection and Linear Discriminant Analysis, trained on a manually labeled sample. The results obtained from the inspection of either the beach site or the sea water facing the beach clearly show the successful separate identification of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) objects through the post-processing data treatment based on the developed classifier algorithm. As a further implementation of the procedure described, direct real-time processing, by an embedded computer carried onboard the drone, permitted the immediate plastics identification (and visual inspection in synchronized images) during the UAV survey, as documented by short video sequences provided in this research paper.
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Garaba SP, Arias M, Corradi P, Harmel T, de Vries R, Lebreton L. Concentration, anisotropic and apparent colour effects on optical reflectance properties of virgin and ocean-harvested plastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 406:124290. [PMID: 33390286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We present reflectance measurements collected from virgin and ocean-harvested plastics. Virgin plastics included high and low density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE), polypropylene (PP) as well as polystyrene (PS). Ocean-harvested plastics were ropes, sheets, foam, pellets and fragmented items previously trawled from the North Pacific Garbage Patch. Nadir viewing angles and plastic pixel coverage were varied to advance our understanding of how reflectance shape and magnitude can be influenced by these parameters. We also investigated the effect of apparent colour of plastics on the measured reflectance from the ultraviolet (UV - 350 nm), visible, near to shortwave infrared (NIR, SWIR - 2500 nm). Statistical analyses indicated that the spectral reflectance of the plastics was significantly correlated to the percentage pixel coverage. There was no clear relationship between the reflectance observed and the viewing nadir angle but dampened materials seemed to be more isotropic (near-Lambertian) than their dry counterparts. A loss in reflectance was also determined between dry and wet plastics. Location of absorption features was not affected by the apparent colour of objects. In general, ocean-harvested plastics shared more identical absorption features (~960, 1215, 1440, 1732, 1920 nm) and had lower reflectance intensity compared to the virgin plastics (~980 nm). Prospects for satellite retrieval of plastic type and pixel plastic coverage are discussed based on Top-of-Atmosphere (TOA) signal simulated through radiative transfer computation using the documented plastic reflectances. Non-linear relationships between TOA reflectance and plastic coverage were observed depending on wavelength and plastic type. Most of the plastics analysed impact significantly the TOA signal but two plastic types did not produce strong signal at TOA (hard fragments, LDPE). Nevertheless, all plastic types produced detectable signals when observations were simulated within the sunglint direction. The measurements collected in this study are an extension to available high quality spectral reference libraries and can support further research in developing remote sensing algorithms for marine litter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shungudzemwoyo P Garaba
- The Ocean Cleanup, Batavierenstraat 15, 3014 JH Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Marine Sensor Systems Group, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Manuel Arias
- ARGANS Limited FR, 260 Route du Pin Montard - BP234, 06904 Sophia-Antipolis cedex, France
| | - Paolo Corradi
- Optics Section, Mechatronics and Optics Division, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), European Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - Tristan Harmel
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), UMR5563, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)/Université Toulouse 3, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Robin de Vries
- The Ocean Cleanup, Batavierenstraat 15, 3014 JH Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laurent Lebreton
- The Ocean Cleanup, Batavierenstraat 15, 3014 JH Rotterdam, The Netherlands; The Modelling House Limited, 3 Bay View Road, Raglan 3225, New Zealand
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Spectral reflectance of marine macroplastics in the VNIR and SWIR measured in a controlled environment. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5436. [PMID: 33686150 PMCID: PMC7940656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84867-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While at least 8 million tons of plastic litter are ending up in our oceans every year and research on marine litter detection is increasing, the spectral properties of wet as well as submerged plastics in natural marine environments are still largely unknown. Scientific evidence-based knowledge about these spectral characteristics has relevance especially to the research and development of future remote sensing technologies for plastic litter detection. In an effort to bridge this gap, we present one of the first studies about the hyperspectral reflectances of virgin and naturally weathered plastics submerged in water at varying suspended sediment concentrations and depth. We also conducted further analyses on the different polymer types such as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), Polyester (PEST) and Low-density polyethylene (PE-LD) to better understand the effect of water absorption on their spectral reflectance. Results show the importance of using spectral wavebands in both the visible and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrum for litter detection, especially when plastics are wet or slightly submerged which is often the case in natural aquatic environments. Finally, we demonstrate in an example how to use the open access data set driven from this research as a reference for the development of marine litter detection algorithms.
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Garcia-Garin O, Monleón-Getino T, López-Brosa P, Borrell A, Aguilar A, Borja-Robalino R, Cardona L, Vighi M. Automatic detection and quantification of floating marine macro-litter in aerial images: Introducing a novel deep learning approach connected to a web application in R. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 273:116490. [PMID: 33486249 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The threats posed by floating marine macro-litter (FMML) of anthropogenic origin to the marine fauna, and marine ecosystems in general, are universally recognized. Dedicated monitoring programmes and mitigation measures are in place to address this issue worldwide, with the increasing support of new technologies and the automation of analytical processes. In the current study, we developed algorithms capable of detecting and quantifying FMML in aerial images, and a web-oriented application that allows users to identify FMML within images of the sea surface. The proposed algorithm is based on a deep learning approach that uses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) capable of learning from unstructured or unlabelled data. The CNN-based deep learning model was trained and tested using 3723 aerial images (50% containing FMML, 50% without FMML) taken by drones and aircraft over the waters of the NW Mediterranean Sea. The accuracies of image classification (performed using all the images for training and testing the model) and cross-validation (performed using 90% of images for training and 10% for testing) were 0.85 and 0.81, respectively. The Shiny package of R was then used to develop a user-friendly application to identify and quantify FMML within the aerial images. The implementation of this, and similar algorithms, allows streamlining substantially the detection and quantification of FMML, providing support to the monitoring and assessment of this environmental threat. However, the automated monitoring of FMML in the open sea still represents a technological challenge, and further research is needed to improve the accuracy of current algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odei Garcia-Garin
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Toni Monleón-Getino
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; BIOST(3), Spain; GRBIO (Research Group in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere López-Brosa
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; BIOST(3), Spain
| | - Asunción Borrell
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Aguilar
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricardo Borja-Robalino
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; BIOST(3), Spain
| | - Luis Cardona
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Morgana Vighi
- Institute of Biodiversity Research (IRBio) and Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Dąbrowska J, Sobota M, Świąder M, Borowski P, Moryl A, Stodolak R, Kucharczak E, Zięba Z, Kazak JK. Marine Waste-Sources, Fate, Risks, Challenges and Research Needs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:E433. [PMID: 33430467 PMCID: PMC7827083 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive and cross-cutting review of key marine waste issues, taking into account: sources, fate, risks, transport pathways, threats, legislation, current challenges, and knowledge gaps. The growing amount of both human-created waste in seas and oceans and waste reaching marine ecosystems from land is one of today's challenges for the global economy and the European Union. It is predicted that if no decisive steps are taken to limit the amount of this type of waste, there may be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans after 2050. The influence of microplastics and nanoplastics on living organisms remains undiagnosed. Within the international and EU law, solutions are being developed to properly manage waste on board ships and to reduce the impact of processes related to the recycling of the vessels on the environment. Currently, over 80% of ships are dismantled in the countries of South Asia, in conditions that threaten the environment and the safety of workers. After World War 2, large quantities of chemical weapons were deposited in the seas. Steel containers with dangerous substances residing in the sea for over 70 years have begun leaking, thus polluting water. For many years, radioactive waste had also been dumped into marine ecosystems, although since 1993 there has been a total ban on such disposal of radionuclides. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marine waste generation has also been presented as a significant factor influencing marine waste generation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Dąbrowska
- Institute of Building Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Marcin Sobota
- Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Świąder
- Institute of Spatial Management, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland; (M.Ś.); (J.K.K.)
| | - Paweł Borowski
- Faculty of Marine Engineering, Maritime University of Szczecin, 71-650 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Andrzej Moryl
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland; (A.M.); (R.S.)
| | - Radosław Stodolak
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland; (A.M.); (R.S.)
| | - Ewa Kucharczak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Zofia Zięba
- Institute of Building Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Jan K. Kazak
- Institute of Spatial Management, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland; (M.Ś.); (J.K.K.)
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Tramoy R, Gasperi J, Colasse L, Silvestre M, Dubois P, Noûs C, Tassin B. Transfer dynamics of macroplastics in estuaries - New insights from the Seine estuary: Part 2. Short-term dynamics based on GPS-trackers. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111566. [PMID: 32911115 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of plastic debris were assessed in the Seine River, especially in the estuary, using plastic bottles equipped with GPS-trackers. In one year, 50 trajectories were recorded, covering a wide range of hydrometeorological conditions. Results show a succession of stranding/remobilization episodes in combination with alternating upstream and downstream transport in the estuary. In the end, 100% of the tracked bottles stranded somewhere, for hours or weeks, from one to several times at different sites. The overall picture shows that different physical phenomena interact with various time scales ranging from hours/days (high/low tides) to weeks/months (spring/neap tides and highest tides) and years (seasonal river flow). Thus, the fate of plastic debris is highly unpredictable, but the consequence of those interactions is that the transfer of debris is chaotic and not straightforward, and its residence time is much longer than the transit time of water.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tramoy
- LEESU (UMR MA 102, Université Paris-Est, AgroParisTech), Université Paris-Est Créteil, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France; Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Créteil, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Eau Environnement et Systèmes Urbains, UMR MA 102, Créteil, France.
| | - J Gasperi
- LEESU (UMR MA 102, Université Paris-Est, AgroParisTech), Université Paris-Est Créteil, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France; Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Créteil, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Eau Environnement et Systèmes Urbains, UMR MA 102, Créteil, France; GERS-LEE, Université Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, F-44344 Bouguenais, France.
| | - L Colasse
- Association SOS Mal de Seine, France. http://www.maldeseine.free.fr/
| | - M Silvestre
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Fédération Ile-de-France de Recherche en Environnement, FR3020 FIRE, Paris, France
| | - P Dubois
- LEESU (UMR MA 102, Université Paris-Est, AgroParisTech), Université Paris-Est Créteil, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France; Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Créteil, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Eau Environnement et Systèmes Urbains, UMR MA 102, Créteil, France
| | - C Noûs
- Laboratoire Cogitamus, Université Paris-Est Créteil, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France
| | - B Tassin
- LEESU (UMR MA 102, Université Paris-Est, AgroParisTech), Université Paris-Est Créteil, 61 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France; Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Créteil, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Eau Environnement et Systèmes Urbains, UMR MA 102, Créteil, France
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38
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Investigating Detection of Floating Plastic Litter from Space Using Sentinel-2 Imagery. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12162648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Plastic litter floating in the ocean is a significant problem on a global scale. This study examines whether Sentinel-2 satellite images can be used to identify plastic litter on the sea surface for monitoring, collection and disposal. A pilot study was conducted to determine if plastic targets on the sea surface can be detected using remote sensing techniques with Sentinel-2 data. A target made up of plastic water bottles with a surface measuring 3 m × 10 m was created, which was subsequently placed in the sea near the Old Port in Limassol, Cyprus. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to acquire multispectral aerial images of the area of interest during the same time as the Sentinel-2 satellite overpass. Spectral signatures of the water and the plastic litter after it was placed in the water were taken with an SVC HR1024 spectroradiometer. The study found that the plastic litter target was easiest to detect in the NIR wavelengths. Seven established indices for satellite image processing were examined to determine whether they can identify plastic litter in the water. Further, the authors examined two new indices, the Plastics Index (PI) and the Reversed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (RNDVI) to be used in the processing of the satellite image. The newly developed Plastic Index (PI) was able to identify plastic objects floating on the water surface and was the most effective index in identifying the plastic litter target in the sea.
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Abstract
The paper presents a conceptual model of the route of macroplastic debris (>5 mm) through a fluvial system, which can support future works on the overlooked processes of macroplastic storage and remobilization in rivers. We divided the macroplastic route into (1) input, (2) transport, (3) storage, (4) remobilization and (5) output phases. Phase 1 is mainly controlled by humans, phases 2–4 by fluvial processes, and phase 5 by both types of controls. We hypothesize that the natural characteristics of fluvial systems and their modification by dam reservoirs and flood embankments construction are key controls on macroplastic storage and remobilization in rivers. The zone of macroplastic storage can be defined as a river floodplain inundated since the beginning of widespread disposal of plastic waste to the environment in the 1960s and the remobilization zone as a part of the storage zone influenced by floodwaters and bank erosion. The amount of macroplastic in both zones can be estimated using data on the abundance of surface- and subsurface-stored macroplastic and the lateral and vertical extent of the zones. Our model creates the framework for estimation of how much plastic has accumulated in rivers and will be present in future riverscapes.
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Remote Sensing of Sea Surface Artificial Floating Plastic Targets with Sentinel-2 and Unmanned Aerial Systems (Plastic Litter Project 2019). REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12122013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Remote sensing is a promising tool for the detection of floating marine plastics offering extensive area coverage and frequent observations. While floating plastics are reported in high concentrations in many places around the globe, no referencing dataset exists either for understanding the spectral behavior of floating plastics in a real environment, or for calibrating remote sensing algorithms and validating their results. To tackle this problem, we initiated the Plastic Litter Projects (PLPs), where large artificial plastic targets were constructed and deployed on the sea surface. The first such experiment was realised in the summer of 2018 (PLP2018) with three large targets of 10 × 10 m. Hereafter, we present the second Plastic Litter Project (PLP2019), where smaller 5 × 5 m targets were constructed to better simulate near-real conditions and examine the limitations of the detection with Sentinel-2 images. The smaller targets and the multiple acquisition dates allowed for several observations, with the targets being connected in a modular way to create different configurations of various sizes, material composition and coverage. A spectral signature for the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) targets was produced through modifying the U.S. Geological Survey PET signature using an inverse spectral unmixing calculation, and the resulting signature was used to perform a matched filtering processing on the Sentinel-2 images. The results provide evidence that under suitable conditions, pixels with a PET abundance fraction of at least as low as 25% can be successfully detected, while pinpointing several factors that significantly impact the detection capabilities. To the best of our knowledge, the 2018 and 2019 Plastic Litter Projects are to date the only large-scale field experiments on the remote detection of floating marine litter in a near-real environment and can be used as a reference for more extensive validation/calibration campaigns.
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Remotely Sensing the Source and Transport of Marine Plastic Debris in Bay Islands of Honduras (Caribbean Sea). REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12111727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Plastic debris in the global ocean is considered an important issue with severe implications for human health and marine ecosystems. Here, we exploited high-resolution multispectral satellite observations over the Bay Islands and Gulf of Honduras, for the period 2014-2019, to investigate the capability of satellite sensors in detecting marine plastic debris. We verified findings with in situ data, recorded the spectral characteristics of floating plastic litter, and identified plastic debris trajectories and sources. The results showed that plastic debris originating from Guatemala’s and Honduras’ rivers (such as Motagua, Ulua, Cangrejal, Tinto and Aguan) ends up in the Caribbean Sea, mainly during the period of August to March, which includes the main rainfall season. The detected spatial trajectories indicated that floating plastic debris travels with an average speed of 6 km d−1, following primarily a southwest (SW) to northeast (NE) direction, driven by the prevailing sea surface currents. Based on several satellite observations, there is no indication of a specific accumulation point, since plastic debris is dispersed by the dynamic circulation in the broader region. Our findings provide evidence that satellite remote sensing is a valuable, cost-effective tool for monitoring the sources and pathways of plastic debris in marine ecosystems, and thus could eventually support management strategies in the global ocean.
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Biermann L, Clewley D, Martinez-Vicente V, Topouzelis K. Finding Plastic Patches in Coastal Waters using Optical Satellite Data. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5364. [PMID: 32327674 PMCID: PMC7181820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62298-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Satellites collecting optical data offer a unique perspective from which to observe the problem of plastic litter in the marine environment, but few studies have successfully demonstrated their use for this purpose. For the first time, we show that patches of floating macroplastics are detectable in optical data acquired by the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-2 satellites and, furthermore, are distinguishable from naturally occurring materials such as seaweed. We present case studies from four countries where suspected macroplastics were detected in Sentinel-2 Earth Observation data. Patches of materials on the ocean surface were highlighted using a novel Floating Debris Index (FDI) developed for the Sentinel-2 Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI). In all cases, floating aggregations were detectable on sub-pixel scales, and appeared to be composed of a mix of seaweed, sea foam, and macroplastics. Building first steps toward a future monitoring system, we leveraged spectral shape to identify macroplastics, and a Naïve Bayes algorithm to classify mixed materials. Suspected plastics were successfully classified as plastics with an accuracy of 86%.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Clewley
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, UK
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