We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
River corridors are global hotspots of microplastic pollution, exceeding the amount of plastics found in the world's oceans
No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →
More Papers Like This
River corridors as global hotspots of microplastic pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
This review argues that river corridors are global hotspots for microplastic pollution, accumulating far more plastic than the ocean garbage patches that typically receive public attention. Researchers calculated that river floodplains could contain far more plastic than the entire ocean surface, making terrestrial and freshwater environments the dominant reservoir of environmental plastic. The paper calls for shifting research and policy attention toward land-based plastic accumulation.
The Role of Rivers in Microplastics Spread and Pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
Rivers function as the primary transport corridors for microplastics from land-based sources to oceans, carrying particles downstream through complex hydrological and biological interactions. Targeting river pollution hotspots with intervention measures is one of the most impactful strategies available for reducing the total global flux of microplastics into marine environments.
Trailing the flow: source, fate and sink of microplastics in global rivers
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesized global research on microplastic pollution in rivers, covering sources, entry routes, and the key processes governing transport and transformation—including weathering, aggregation, sinking, and resuspension—along with ecotoxicological and socioeconomic impacts. Because rivers are the primary conduit transferring land-based microplastics to the ocean, understanding riverine dynamics is essential for designing effective interception strategies before contamination reaches marine food webs and human seafood supplies.
Beyond our oceans: Microplastics pollute rivers and lakes too
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers and journalists highlighted that microplastic pollution extends well beyond the ocean, contaminating rivers, lakes, and terrestrial ecosystems — environments that supply much of the world's drinking water and food. This broader distribution suggests human exposure to microplastics may be more widespread than previously recognized.
Occurrence of microplastic pollution in rivers globally: Driving factors of distribution and ecological risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers constructed a global dataset of microplastic pollution across 862 river water and 445 sediment samples, identifying population density, GDP, and plastic waste generation as key driving factors of riverine microplastic distribution and ecological risk.
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.