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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.
Microplastics result from fragmentation of plastic debris or are released to the environment as pre-production pellets or components of consumer and industrial products. In the oceans, they contribute to the 'great garbage patches'. They are ingested by many organisms, from protozoa to baleen whales, and pose a threat to the aquatic fauna. Although as much as 80% of marine debris originates from land, little attention was given to the role of rivers as debris pathways to the sea. Worldwide, not a single great river has yet been studied for the surface microplastics load over its length. We report the abundance and composition of microplastics at the surface of the Rhine, one of the largest European rivers. Measurements were made at 11 locations over a stretch of 820 km. Microplastics were found in all samples, with 892,777 particles km (-2) on average. In the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area, a peak concentration of 3.9 million particles km (-2) was measured. Microplastics concentrations were diverse along and across the river, reflecting various sources and sinks such as waste water treatment plants, tributaries and weirs. Measures should be implemented to avoid and reduce the pollution with anthropogenic litter in aquatic ecosystems.
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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.
Microplastics in the Rhine River – from the Swiss catchment towards the North Sea
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This thesis investigated microplastic pollution in the Rhine River from its Swiss headwaters to the North Sea, quantifying the types and abundance of plastic particles at multiple points along the river. Rivers are the primary conduit for land-based plastic waste reaching the ocean, and the Rhine is a major European source.
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.
One Year Observation of Microplastic Concentrations in the River Rhine
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Researchers conducted a year-long observation of microplastic concentrations in the River Rhine, generating a large dataset analyzed under rigorous statistical methods. The study provides mass concentration data that establishes environmentally relevant baseline levels, which are essential for realistic risk assessment of microplastic exposure in freshwater systems.
Monitoring microplastic transport in the Rhine River
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Scientists tracked tiny plastic particles flowing down the Rhine River in Germany for a year and found extremely high amounts - up to 460 tons of microplastics flowing past certain points annually. These microscopic plastic pieces come from everyday items like food packaging and clothing, and they're constantly moving from rivers into oceans where they can enter the food chain. This research helps us understand how much plastic pollution is traveling through major waterways, which is important for protecting both river ecosystems and the seafood we eat.
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.