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Geomorphologically controlled macroplastic hotspots across fluvial landforms in an urban forest park
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Researchers surveyed visible plastic litter across streambeds and banks in an urban forest park near Tehran, Iran, counting items in 38 small plots. Flat depositional areas had the most plastic items on average, while narrow incised channels had the least, though differences between landform types were not statistically significant. Plastic bags and food wrappers were the most common items found.
Plastic pollution is an emerging threat to urban green spaces and forest parks, where recreational activities generate litter that can be redistributed by runoff and fluvial processes. However, the role of small-scale fluvial geomorphology in regulating macroplastic retention within ephemeral stream networks remains poorly understood. This study investigated macroplastic accumulation across four fluvial landforms in five ephemeral streams of Latman Kan Urban Forest Park; a major peri-urban recreational area in Tehran, Iran. A total of 38 1 m 2 plots representing cut banks ( n = 18), depositional surfaces ( n = 6), point bars ( n = 9) and incised channels ( n = 5) were surveyed. Visible macroplastic items (>5 mm) were collected manually, visually classified into categories (plastic bags, cups, bottles, food wrappers, foam, caps), counted and weighed. Depositional surfaces exhibited the highest mean macroplastic abundance (12.8 ± 8.7 items m −2 ), whereas incised channels showed the lowest (6.6 ± 4. m −2 ). Mean macroplastic mass was broadly comparable among depositional surfaces, point bars, and cut banks, with lower values observed in incised channels. Differences in macroplastic abundance and mass among landforms were not statistically significant. Macroplastic abundance and mass also varied among streams, but these differences were not statistically significant. Plastic bags and food wrappers were the most abundant identifiable macroplastic categories. Macroplastic category composition did not differ significantly among fluvial landforms. These findings indicate spatial variability in macroplastic accumulation across fluvial landforms, although differences in abundance, mass and category composition among landforms were not statistically significant. Recognizing spatial patterns of macroplastic accumulation across geomorphic settings can help inform targeted monitoring and cleanup strategies in urban green spaces.
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