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Macroplastic concentrations in the water column of the river Rhine increase with higher discharge
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Researchers used trawl nets at multiple depths in the Rhine River to track macroplastic pollution in the water column, finding that plastic concentrations rise sharply during high river discharge (flooding). During low-flow conditions, plastics accumulated near the riverbed, revealing that hydrology plays a key role in where and how much plastic moves through river systems.
Riverine macroplastic pollution (>0.5 cm) negatively impacts ecosystems and human livelihoods. Monitoring data are crucial for understanding this issue and for the design of effective interventions strategies. Macroplastic pollution floating on the river surface and plastic deposited on riverbanks are studied relatively often. Data on riverine plastics in the water column remain scarce. In this study, we utilized trawl nets at different depths to sample plastic pollution in the water column at the entry point of the river Rhine to the Netherlands. We show that plastic concentrations in the water column increased during higher discharge. Moreover, the results indicate that the vertical distribution of macroplastic pollution changes during different flow conditions. Significantly higher concentrations of macroplastic can be seen near the riverbed during low discharge conditions, while no significant differences in concentration are observed between the bottom, middle, and surface samples during high discharge conditions. Taking into account the recurrence time of low discharge conditions the transport of plastic during low discharge conditions is substantial. These findings provide first insights into the key role of hydrology in explaining macroplastic transport in the water column. These insights can be used to improve future monitoring and intervention strategies.
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Microplastics profile along the Rhine River
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations along the Rhine River from source to sea, finding a downstream increase in abundance that reflected cumulative inputs from cities and tributaries, with the Rhine acting as a major conduit delivering plastics to the North Sea.
From source to sea: Floating macroplastic transport along the Rhine river
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Floating plastic transport along the Rhine River was assessed from Switzerland to the Netherlands, finding plastic transport increased significantly toward the river mouth and near urban areas and tributary confluences, with tidal dynamics in the estuary limiting final transport to the sea.
From source to sea: Floating macroplastic transport along the Rhine river
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Researchers tracked floating macroplastic transport along the Rhine River to understand how much land-based plastic reaches the ocean. They found that plastic transport was highly variable and linked to rainfall and flood events, with much of the plastic being retained in the river system. The study provides important data for estimating how much riverine plastic eventually enters the North Sea.
A multi-method analysis of microplastic abundance in Rhine floodplains as a function of their local topography and flood frequencies
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Researchers measured microplastic abundance in Rhine River floodplain sediments at different distances from the river and at different times relative to flood events. Flooding was found to both deposit and remobilize microplastics across floodplains, creating complex spatiotemporal patterns. The study highlights that floodplains are important temporary storage areas for microplastics and that flood dynamics play a major role in transporting them across river-terrestrial ecosystem boundaries.
Simulating the fate and transport of microplastics in a river corridor (Rhine River)
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through the Rhine River and found that most keep flowing downstream toward the ocean, but some get trapped along riverbanks during floods. When water levels drop after flooding, these stored plastic particles can get stirred back up into the water supply. This matters because rivers are major pathways for microplastics to reach the oceans and potentially our drinking water sources.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.