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Assessment of seasonal variability of input of microplastics from the Northern Dvina River to the Arctic Ocean
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Seasonal monitoring of floating microplastics and mesoplastics on the Northern Dvina River in the European Arctic was conducted at its mouth, finding that plastic loads varied substantially across seasons with peak concentrations during snowmelt and high-flow periods. The study estimates plastic inputs to the White Sea and Arctic Ocean from one of the largest rivers draining populated subarctic regions.
Northern Dvina River is one of the largest rivers in the European Arctic flowing into the White Sea through the populated regions with developed industry. Floating plastics include microplastics (0.5-5 mm) and mesoplastics (5-25 mm) were observed on seasonal variations in the Northern Dvina River mouth. The samples were collected every month from September to November 2019 and from May to October 2020 with a Neuston net that was togged 3 nautical miles in the Korbel'nyy Branch of the River delta. Chemical composition of the plastic particles was determined using a Fourier transmission infrared spectrometer. The majority of the microplastics were identified as polyethylene 52.6%, followed by polypropylene 36.8%. After estimating the export fluxes of microplastics from the Northern Dvina River to the Arctic, there is no significant seasonal variation of the river export of microplastics. The microplastics export rate during the spring flood period in May turned out to be maximum, 58 items/s, while the minimum discharge was in September with a value of 9 items/s. The average weight concentration of microplastics was 18.5 μg/m3, which is higher than it was found in the Barents Sea - 12.5 μg/m3 and several times higher than in the Eurasian Arctic on average - 3.7 μg/m3. These results indicate that the Northern Dvina River is being one of the main sources of microplastic pollution of the White and the Barents Seas.
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Assessment of seasonal variability of input of microplastics from the Northern Dvina River to the Arctic ocean.
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Researchers monitored seasonal variation in microplastic concentrations in the Northern Dvina River near the White Sea across monthly samples from September to November and into 2020, finding fluctuations related to hydrology and human activity. The study provides early data on how seasonality affects microplastic export from a major Arctic river into polar waters.
Variability of plastic input from the Northern Dvina River
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Researchers monitored floating plastics at the mouth of the Northern Dvina River in Russia over three open-water seasons, finding that polyethylene was the dominant plastic type and that concentrations varied seasonally and between years. Rivers like the Northern Dvina act as conveyor belts delivering microplastics from industrial and urban inland areas to the Arctic seas.
Plastic Pollution in an Arctic River: A Three-Year Study of Abundance, Mass, and Flux from the Northern Dvina to the White Sea
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Researchers conducted a three-year survey of floating microplastics and macroplastics in the Northern Dvina River using Neuston net sampling, finding low microplastic concentrations with no seasonal flux variability but notable contributions of meso/macroplastics — and identified the Dvina as a leading Arctic river source based on socioeconomic proximity indicators.
New insights into the role of sediments in microplastic inputs from the Northern Dvina River (Russia) to the White and Barents Seas
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in the sediments of the Northern Dvina River, a major source of plastic pollution entering the White and Barents Seas. Using advanced analytical methods, the study found up to 350 mg/kg of microplastics in sediments, with the river branching area forming a pollution hotspot. Evidence indicates that river sediments play a critical role as transfer pathways for microplastics moving from inland sources to Arctic marine environments.
Microplastic fate in Arctic coastal waters: accumulation hotspots and role of rivers in Svalbard
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Microplastic sampling in Svalbard fjords found surface MPs concentrated along river plume borders in populated areas (up to 71,400 items/km²), while intense riverine discharge during summer flushed MPs away from unpopulated fjords, highlighting the dual role of rivers as both sources and transporters of Arctic microplastics.
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