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Characterization of Transboundary Transfer Mechanisms for Improved Plastic Waste Management: A Study on the U.S.–Mexico Border
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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.
The vast majority of ocean plastics originate from land and are transported over long distances to their final sink. Yet, our current understanding of transfer mechanisms through rivers and estuaries remains poor due to a lack of consistent methods for assessing and monitoring plastic waste. In this study, we quantify and characterize the abundance of plastics in the Tijuana River estuary, located along the U.S.–Mexico border. We found a total of 2804 plastic debris items, of which 79.3% were sampled during heavy rainfalls and 20.7% during the dry period. Overall, most plastics were attributed to five economic sectors: packaging, food, construction, fishing, and tourism, highlighting losses during the use and waste management phases of the plastic’s value chain. Based on the results of the analysis, consistent monitoring of plastic pollution is recommended for managing variable plastic loads.
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Microplastics in stormwater runoff in a semiarid region, Tijuana, Mexico
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Microplastic pollution was documented in stormwater runoff in Tijuana, Mexico, a semi-arid border region, with concentrations reflecting both local land use patterns and proximity to the Pacific coast. The study highlights that microplastic-laden stormwater from urban areas in developing regions is a significant but understudied pathway to ocean pollution.
Advancing Our Understanding of Transboundary Plastic Waste Management
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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.
Microplastics in the sediments of the Tijuana River Basin, Mexico
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Researchers documented widespread microplastic contamination in the sediments of the Tijuana River, a binational waterway shared by Mexico and the United States, with fibers and polypropylene fragments being the most common types. Inadequate wastewater treatment and poor solid waste management were identified as the primary sources.
Participatory mapping of transboundary pollution: the case of Imperial Beach, California
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Researchers used participatory mapping and citizen science to document beach litter along the U.S.-Mexico border at Imperial Beach, California, finding that plastic was the dominant material at 52.6% of all debris, with inadequate waste management, tourism, and cross-border pollution inflow identified as primary drivers.
A baseline study of macro, meso and micro litter in the Belize River basin, from catchment to coast
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Researchers conducted a baseline survey of macro, meso, and micro litter throughout the Belize River basin from inland catchments to the coast, documenting plastic as the dominant litter type and identifying rivers as key conduits transporting terrestrial plastic waste to coastal waters.
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.