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Same but Different: A Framework to Design and Compare Riverbank Plastic Monitoring Strategies
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This paper proposed a framework for designing and comparing riverbank plastic monitoring programs, addressing how differences in methodology make existing datasets difficult to compare. By standardizing site selection, sampling effort, and data reporting, the framework aims to improve understanding of macroplastic sources, sinks, and transport in rivers.
Plastic pollution in rivers negatively impacts human livelihood and aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring data are crucial for a better understanding of sources, sinks and transport mechanisms of riverine macroplastics. In turn, such understanding is key to develop effective plastic pollution prevention, mitigation and removal strategies. Riverine plastic is mostly studied through the monitoring of floating plastic and through the quantification of plastic deposited on riverbanks. Existing riverbank plastic measurement methods vary greatly, which complicates direct comparison of data collected with different monitoring strategies. We present a framework to better compare and to aid the design of riverbank plastic monitoring methods, which is based on four common elements distilled from riverbank (plastic) litter monitoring methods currently in use. This framework can be used by scientists and practitioners to find the right trade-offs between the data required to answer specific research questions, and the available resources. Subsequently, we use the framework to suggest effective monitoring strategies for three frequently asked research questions. With this paper, we aim to provide a first step towards harmonization of riverbank plastic litter monitoring efforts.
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Same but different: A framework to design and compare riverbank plastic monitoring strategies
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Researchers proposed a standardized framework for designing and comparing riverbank plastic monitoring strategies, identifying four common elements shared across existing methods to facilitate harmonization of data collection. The framework aims to help scientists and practitioners balance research objectives against available resources, improving cross-study comparability of macroplastic litter data.
Evaluation of riverine macro- and mesoplastic monitoring approaches.
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This review evaluated and compared existing monitoring approaches for riverine macro- and mesoplastics, identifying key methodological inconsistencies that limit cross-study comparisons and calling for standardization to improve understanding of plastic transport and accumulation in freshwater river systems.
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This review examines two decades of microplastic monitoring in aquatic systems, identifying persistent challenges in harmonizing methodologies for sampling, analysis, and reporting that hinder data comparison, and proposing improvements to create comparable datasets for assessing plastic pollution from river basins to the ocean.
Measuring riverine macroplastic: Methods, harmonisation, and quality control
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This critical review examined methods for measuring macroplastic flows in rivers, finding substantial variability in approaches and reporting that limits comparability across studies. The authors call for methods testing, harmonized quality assurance procedures, and standardized data reporting to support a rigorous evidence base for global plastic pollution reduction efforts including the forthcoming treaty.
Riverine Plastic Pollution: Field Sampling Protocol and Implementation in U.S. Rivers
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This paper presents a standardized field sampling protocol for measuring plastic pollution in U.S. rivers. Consistent methodology is essential for comparing data across studies and is designed to capture both surface and submerged plastics including microplastics in riverine systems.
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.