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Accumulation, transformation and transport of microplastics in estuarine fronts
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Estuarine fronts — dynamic boundary zones where river and ocean waters meet — act as convergence points that concentrate microplastics while also accelerating their fragmentation through turbulence, sediment interactions, and biological processes. Targeting these frontal hotspots for monitoring and remediation efforts could significantly improve our ability to intercept plastic pollution before it disperses into the open ocean.
Millions of tons of riverine plastic waste enter the ocean via estuaries annually. The plastics accumulate, fragment, mix and interact with organisms in these dynamic systems, but such processes have received limited attention relative to open-ocean sites. In this Perspective, we discuss the occurrence and convergence of microplastics at estuarine fronts, focusing on their interactions with physical, geochemical and biological processes. Microplastic transformation can be enhanced within frontal systems owing to strong turbulence and interactions with sediment and biological particles, exacerbating the potential ecosystem impacts. The formation of microplastic hotspots at estuarine fronts could be a target for future plastic pollution mitigation efforts. Knowledge of the mechanics of plastic dispersal, accumulation and fate in frontal zones will, in turn, improve our understanding of plastic waste along the land–sea aquatic continuum. Large quantities of plastics flow from rivers to estuaries, where they potentially converge in frontal zones. This Perspective describes the occurrence, transformation and impact of these processes, highlighting their importance in mitigating plastic pollution.
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Researchers used a validated Delft3D hydrodynamic model coupled with Lagrangian particle tracking to show that axial convergent fronts in the Conwy estuary trap microplastics as an additional retention mechanism, but that high river-flow events disrupt these fronts and flush particles offshore—highlighting that estuarine microplastic fate depends on dynamic interplay between tidal and riverine forcing.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.