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Characterization of Transboundary Transfer Mechanisms for Improved Plastic Waste Management: A Study on the U.S.–Mexico Border
Summary
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.