Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs
Land-based plastic waste, carried to the sea through rivers, is considered a main source of marine plastic pollution. However, most plastics that leak into the environment never make it into the ocean. Only a small fraction of plastics that are found in the terrestrial and aquatic compartments of ri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.786936/full |
| _version_ | 1818084457548087296 |
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| author | Tim van Emmerik Yvette Mellink Rahel Hauk Kryss Waldschläger Louise Schreyers |
| author_facet | Tim van Emmerik Yvette Mellink Rahel Hauk Kryss Waldschläger Louise Schreyers |
| author_sort | Tim van Emmerik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land-based plastic waste, carried to the sea through rivers, is considered a main source of marine plastic pollution. However, most plastics that leak into the environment never make it into the ocean. Only a small fraction of plastics that are found in the terrestrial and aquatic compartments of river systems are emitted, and the vast majority can be retained for years, decades, and potentially centuries. In this perspective paper we introduce the concept of river systems as plastic reservoirs. Under normal conditions, hydrometeorological variables (such as wind, runoff and river discharge) mobilize, transport and deposit plastics within different river compartments (e.g., riverbanks, floodplains, lakes, estuaries). The emptying of these plastic reservoirs primarily occurs under extreme hydrological conditions (e.g., storms, floods). In this paper we specifically focus on the retention mechanisms within different river compartments, and their effect on the fate of the plastics that are accumulated on various timescales. We aim to introduce the concept of rivers as (long-term) sinks for plastic pollution, and provide suggestions for future research directions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:54:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-907299d7862d44a882ef1f82245ae88a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:54:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-907299d7862d44a882ef1f82245ae88a2022-12-22T01:35:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Water2624-93752022-01-01310.3389/frwa.2021.786936786936Rivers as Plastic ReservoirsTim van EmmerikYvette MellinkRahel HaukKryss WaldschlägerLouise SchreyersLand-based plastic waste, carried to the sea through rivers, is considered a main source of marine plastic pollution. However, most plastics that leak into the environment never make it into the ocean. Only a small fraction of plastics that are found in the terrestrial and aquatic compartments of river systems are emitted, and the vast majority can be retained for years, decades, and potentially centuries. In this perspective paper we introduce the concept of river systems as plastic reservoirs. Under normal conditions, hydrometeorological variables (such as wind, runoff and river discharge) mobilize, transport and deposit plastics within different river compartments (e.g., riverbanks, floodplains, lakes, estuaries). The emptying of these plastic reservoirs primarily occurs under extreme hydrological conditions (e.g., storms, floods). In this paper we specifically focus on the retention mechanisms within different river compartments, and their effect on the fate of the plastics that are accumulated on various timescales. We aim to introduce the concept of rivers as (long-term) sinks for plastic pollution, and provide suggestions for future research directions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.786936/fullmacroplastichydrologymarine debrisplastic souppollutionwater quality |
| spellingShingle | Tim van Emmerik Yvette Mellink Rahel Hauk Kryss Waldschläger Louise Schreyers Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs Frontiers in Water macroplastic hydrology marine debris plastic soup pollution water quality |
| title | Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs |
| title_full | Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs |
| title_fullStr | Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs |
| title_short | Rivers as Plastic Reservoirs |
| title_sort | rivers as plastic reservoirs |
| topic | macroplastic hydrology marine debris plastic soup pollution water quality |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.786936/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timvanemmerik riversasplasticreservoirs AT yvettemellink riversasplasticreservoirs AT rahelhauk riversasplasticreservoirs AT krysswaldschlager riversasplasticreservoirs AT louiseschreyers riversasplasticreservoirs |