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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Environmental Sources
Marine & Wildlife
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Environmental Science & Technology2025
1 citation
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 53
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Rahel Hauk,
Tim van Emmerik,
Rahel Hauk,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Rahel Hauk,
Rahel Hauk,
Rahel Hauk,
Rahel Hauk,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Adriaan J. Teuling
Adriaan J. Teuling
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Louise Schreyers,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Rahel Hauk,
Rahel Hauk,
Rahel Hauk,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Louise Schreyers,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Adriaan J. Teuling
Adriaan J. Teuling
Nicholas Wallerstein,
R. Uijlenhoet,
Adriaan J. Teuling
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Adriaan J. Teuling
Rahel Hauk,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Rahel Hauk,
Louise Schreyers,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Rahel Hauk,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
R. Uijlenhoet,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
R. Uijlenhoet,
R. Uijlenhoet,
Tim van Emmerik,
Rahel Hauk,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Rahel Hauk,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Rahel Hauk,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Nicholas Wallerstein,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Nicholas Wallerstein,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
Martine van der Ploeg,
R. Uijlenhoet,
Rahel Hauk,
Louise Schreyers,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Tim van Emmerik,
Louise Schreyers,
Adriaan J. Teuling
Summary
Researchers analyzed macroplastic deposition along river floodplains during 14 events across two Dutch rivers, comparing flood and non-flood conditions. They found that larger floods deposited two to three times more plastic than non-flood conditions, with deposition patterns varying by flood type: summer floods trapped plastics in inundated vegetation while winter floods deposited plastics in wide, slow-flowing floodplain sections. The study suggests that as flood severity and plastic pollution both increase, floods will play an even more prominent role in distributing plastic pollution.
Study Type
Environmental
Plastic pollution is a global environmental challenge that negatively impacts species, ecosystems, and human livelihoods. River basins, with high population densities and poor waste management, are particularly exposed to plastic pollution. Floods amplify the presence of plastic in rivers by mobilizing previously deposited materials and introducing new plastics. Yet, the fate of these mobilized plastics remains unclear, with observations suggesting either downstream export or floodplain deposition. This study assesses flood impact on macroplastic deposition along river floodplains, using data from 14 events─five floods and nine nonflood conditions─across two Dutch rivers. Higher flood return periods increased macroplastic deposition, with the two largest floods depositing two to three times more macroplastic than nonflood conditions. Deposition mechanisms varied by flood type. Obstruction-based deposition dominated during an extreme summer flood, when macroplastics accumulated mainly in inundated vegetation. Low-energy deposition prevailed during a long winter flood, with high plastic concentrations found in wide floodplain sections where flow velocities decreased. Flood severity and plastic entry into the environment are both projected to increase. Therefore, we expect an even more prominent role for floods in the global distribution of plastic pollution.