We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Macroplastic accumulation across different surface covers, a case study of two South African rivers
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigated macroplastic accumulation across different surface covers in two South African rivers, finding significantly higher macroplastic loads in the Bloukrans River (3.5 items/m²) compared to the Palmiet River (0.8 items/m²), with multilayer plastics and soft polyolefins dominating. Wood jams emerged as effective hotspots for macroplastic debris, and the study highlighted the critical role of surface cover type and land use in macroplastic accumulation and distribution in Southern African rivers.
Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems is an escalating global concern, yet riverine macroplastic pollution and dynamics remain poorly understood in Southern Africa. This study investigated macroplastic accumulation across different surface covers in two rivers with contrasting anthropogenic inputs. We hypothesised that wood jams in the current study would contribute to high macroplastic loads across Bloukrans and Palmiet rivers and that the polymer composition of plastics would be diverse across all four surface covers. A total of 452 macroplastic items were collected, with significantly higher loads recorded in the Bloukrans River (3.5 items/m2; 93.3 g/m2) compared to the Palmiet River (0.8 items/m2; 10.1 g/m2). Multilayer plastics and soft polyolefins dominated across both rivers, particularly in herbaceous vegetation and wood jams. Significant differences were observed in macroplastic loads between rivers and among surface covers for Palmiet River. The increased macroplastic loads in the Bloukrans River were associated with untreated municipal effluent, stormwater runoff, and informal waste dumping, while in Palmiet River, macroplastic pollution was mainly linked to recreational littering and runoff. Wood jams emerged as an effective hotspot for macroplastic debris. These findings highlight the critical role of surface cover in enabling macroplastic accumulation and distribution thus the study further calls for targeted waste management, cleanup operations, and riparian protection strategies to safeguard river health and resilience in Southern Africa.
More Papers Like This
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in functionally delineated hydraulic zones in selected rivers, Eastern Cape, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across different flow zones in two urban rivers in South Africa, finding that slow-flowing pools and backwaters accumulate significantly more settled microplastics than fast-flowing areas. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments were the most common types found. The study helps explain where microplastics concentrate in rivers, which is important for understanding exposure risks at drinking water intake points downstream.
Characterization of Macroplastics in Flood Deposits along Contrasting Sections of the Saône River (France)
AI summary Read the abstract
A survey of the Saône River's floodplain found 1,324 macroplastic items trapped in flood deposits, with trapping patterns driven by slope, stream power, and vegetation density — foam accumulating in calm bank zones and films in densely vegetated islands. These preferential trapping zones represent fragmentation hotspots where macroplastics break down into microplastics, making them critical targets for plastic pollution monitoring and intervention.
Relationship between selected hydrodynamic indices and microplastic distributions across mesohabitats in urban rivers, Eastern Cape, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how hydrodynamic indices — Froude number, Reynolds number, and shear velocity — shape the spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics across different hydraulic zones in three subtropical urban rivers in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. The study found that hydraulic conditions significantly governed microplastic retention in pools and backwaters versus riffles and runs, with seasonal variation between dry and wet periods.
Preferential deposition of macroplastic on floodplains
AI summary Read the abstract
When rivers flood, they carry large plastic debris onto floodplains — and researchers studying two major Dutch rivers found that debris piles and riparian vegetation are the primary traps for this plastic waste. Soft, flexible plastics (like bags and textiles) tend to snag in trees and shrubs, while rigid plastics are more likely to settle on the ground. Understanding exactly where and how plastic accumulates during flood events can help authorities target cleanup efforts more effectively and prevent these materials from eventually breaking down into microplastics.
Macrodebris and microplastics pollution in Nigeria: first report on abundance, distribution and composition
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first assessment of macrodebris and microplastics in five rivers in southeastern Nigeria, finding plastics as the dominant macrodebris type at 59% and documenting small microplastic particles as small as 11 micrometers across all sites.
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.