Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta
Anthropogenic litter in aquatic ecosystems negatively impacts ecosystems, species and economic activities. Rivers play a key role in transporting land-based waste towards the ocean. A large portion however is retained within river basins, for example in the estuary, in sediments and on the riverbank...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2020-01-01
|
| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abb2c6 |
| _version_ | 1797747789146357760 |
|---|---|
| author | Tim van Emmerik Caspar Roebroek Winnie de Winter Paul Vriend Marijke Boonstra Merijn Hougee |
| author_facet | Tim van Emmerik Caspar Roebroek Winnie de Winter Paul Vriend Marijke Boonstra Merijn Hougee |
| author_sort | Tim van Emmerik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthropogenic litter in aquatic ecosystems negatively impacts ecosystems, species and economic activities. Rivers play a key role in transporting land-based waste towards the ocean. A large portion however is retained within river basins, for example in the estuary, in sediments and on the riverbanks. To effectively identify litter sources, sinks and transport mechanisms, reliable data are crucial. Furthermore, such data can support optimizing litter prevention mitigation and clean-up efforts. This paper presents the results of a 2-year monitoring campaign focused on riverbank macrolitter (>0.5 cm) in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta. Between 2017 and 2019, volunteers sampled 152 415 litter items at 212 unique locations. All items were categorized based on the River-OSPAR method (based on the OSPAR beach litter guidelines), which includes 110 specific item categories across ten parent categories. The median litter density was 2060 items/km, and the most observed items were foam, hard, and soft plastic fragments (55.8%). Plastic bottles, food wrappings and packaging, caps, lids and cotton swabs were the most abundant specific items. The litter density and most abundant items vary considerably between rivers, along the river, and over time. For both rivers however, the highest litter density values were found at the Belgian (Meuse) and German (Rhine) borders, and at the Biesbosch National Park, the most downstream location. With this paper, we aim to provide a first scientific overview of the abundance, top item categories, and spatiotemporal variation of anthropogenic litter on riverbanks in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta. In addition, we evaluate the used River-OSPAR method and provide suggestions for future implementation in (inter)national long-term monitoring strategies. The results can be used by scientists and policy-makers for future litter monitoring, prevention and clean-up strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:55:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-521601ec502d4f0bae335f0835723d89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:55:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-521601ec502d4f0bae335f0835723d892023-08-09T14:55:08ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262020-01-01151010408710.1088/1748-9326/abb2c6Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse deltaTim van Emmerik0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4773-9107Caspar Roebroek1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1733-0845Winnie de Winter2Paul Vriend3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4008-8612Marijke Boonstra4Merijn Hougee5Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University , Wageningen, The NetherlandsHydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University , Wageningen, The NetherlandsStichting De Noordzee , Utrecht, The NetherlandsHydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University , Wageningen, The NetherlandsStichting De Noordzee , Utrecht, The NetherlandsStichting De Noordzee , Utrecht, The NetherlandsAnthropogenic litter in aquatic ecosystems negatively impacts ecosystems, species and economic activities. Rivers play a key role in transporting land-based waste towards the ocean. A large portion however is retained within river basins, for example in the estuary, in sediments and on the riverbanks. To effectively identify litter sources, sinks and transport mechanisms, reliable data are crucial. Furthermore, such data can support optimizing litter prevention mitigation and clean-up efforts. This paper presents the results of a 2-year monitoring campaign focused on riverbank macrolitter (>0.5 cm) in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta. Between 2017 and 2019, volunteers sampled 152 415 litter items at 212 unique locations. All items were categorized based on the River-OSPAR method (based on the OSPAR beach litter guidelines), which includes 110 specific item categories across ten parent categories. The median litter density was 2060 items/km, and the most observed items were foam, hard, and soft plastic fragments (55.8%). Plastic bottles, food wrappings and packaging, caps, lids and cotton swabs were the most abundant specific items. The litter density and most abundant items vary considerably between rivers, along the river, and over time. For both rivers however, the highest litter density values were found at the Belgian (Meuse) and German (Rhine) borders, and at the Biesbosch National Park, the most downstream location. With this paper, we aim to provide a first scientific overview of the abundance, top item categories, and spatiotemporal variation of anthropogenic litter on riverbanks in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta. In addition, we evaluate the used River-OSPAR method and provide suggestions for future implementation in (inter)national long-term monitoring strategies. The results can be used by scientists and policy-makers for future litter monitoring, prevention and clean-up strategies.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abb2c6macroplasticplastic pollutionhydrologyriver plasticOSPARobservations |
| spellingShingle | Tim van Emmerik Caspar Roebroek Winnie de Winter Paul Vriend Marijke Boonstra Merijn Hougee Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta Environmental Research Letters macroplastic plastic pollution hydrology river plastic OSPAR observations |
| title | Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta |
| title_full | Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta |
| title_fullStr | Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta |
| title_short | Riverbank macrolitter in the Dutch Rhine–Meuse delta |
| title_sort | riverbank macrolitter in the dutch rhine meuse delta |
| topic | macroplastic plastic pollution hydrology river plastic OSPAR observations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abb2c6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timvanemmerik riverbankmacrolitterinthedutchrhinemeusedelta AT casparroebroek riverbankmacrolitterinthedutchrhinemeusedelta AT winniedewinter riverbankmacrolitterinthedutchrhinemeusedelta AT paulvriend riverbankmacrolitterinthedutchrhinemeusedelta AT marijkeboonstra riverbankmacrolitterinthedutchrhinemeusedelta AT merijnhougee riverbankmacrolitterinthedutchrhinemeusedelta |