We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Advancing Our Understanding of Transboundary Plastic Waste Management
AI summary Read the abstract
A systematic review of 45 studies found that no single monitoring methodology is sufficient to track transboundary plastic waste flows, and an integrated approach combining sampling, remote sensing, and oceanographic modeling is needed. Improving data collection on cross-border plastic transport is essential for designing international policy interventions to reduce marine microplastic accumulation.
Transboundary plastic waste management is poorly understood due to the limited availability of comprehensive approaches to monitor plastic waste and pollution flows. To address this issue, this paper provides a detailed review of the existing monitoring methodologies and challenges associated with the acquisition of data on transboundary plastics. Data were extracted from 108 articles sourced from Scopus and Google Scholar using a systematic literature search, and from grey literature using a snowball search. Overall, 45 studies were included in the analysis and classified based on the monitoring methodologies employed, ranging from sampling with a laboratory analysis, to field studies, remote sensing studies, and oceanographic models. Based on the literature review, this paper supports the need to employ an integrated monitoring approach for the study of transboundary plastics that can overcome the limitations of individual technologies, while leveraging the strengths and opportunities of a technological mix. The paper also calls for understanding the value of monitoring technologies in supporting more effective decision-making on plastic waste reduction.
More Papers Like This
Characterization of Transboundary Transfer Mechanisms for Improved Plastic Waste Management: A Study on the U.S.–Mexico Border
AI summary Read the abstract
This study quantified and characterized plastic debris abundance and composition in the Tijuana River estuary along the US-Mexico border, finding 2,804 plastic items with 79.3% collected during heavy rainfall events. Five economic sectors dominated the plastic sources including packaging, food, construction, fishing, and tourism, highlighting how multiple use and waste management phases contribute to transboundary plastic pollution.
Finding the Balance between Research and Monitoring: When Are Methods Good Enough to Understand Plastic Pollution?
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper discusses the gap between the need for plastic pollution monitoring and the ongoing development of research methods, arguing that standardized but imperfect methods should be adopted now to enable consistent data collection across programs. The authors propose a framework for deciding when research methods are sufficiently mature to support meaningful environmental monitoring.
Uncovering Plastic Pollution: A Scoping Review of Urban Waterways, Technologies, and Interdisciplinary Approaches
AI summary Read the abstract
This scoping review of 110 peer-reviewed studies examined plastic pollution in Southeast Asian waterways, identifying four interconnected research areas including urban pollution pathways, monitoring innovations, community interventions, and interdisciplinary perspectives. The review highlights IoT sensors and geospatial technologies transforming plastic tracking while noting persistent gaps in longitudinal studies and policy translation across the Global South.
The fate of plastic litter within estuarine compartments: An overview of current knowledge for the transboundary issue to guide future assessments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed global knowledge on plastic fate within estuaries and found plastic concentrations reaching thousands of items per cubic meter in water and sediment, while identifying major methodological gaps — particularly that microfibers are consistently undersampled and that studies rarely account for ecological trophic gradients or the physicochemical dynamics driving plastic distribution and bioavailability.
Towards more sustainable oceans: A review of the pressing challenges posed by marine plastic litter
AI summary Read the abstract
This study combined a bibliometric analysis of international marine plastic litter research with a review of policy measures and case studies across countries, finding that unsustainable practices and inadequate enforcement are the main drivers of persistent marine plastic pollution. The authors emphasized the need for prevention-focused policies and environmental awareness programs to work toward cleaner oceans for future generations.
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.