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Papers
10 resultsShowing papers from Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
ClearRiver plastic transport and deposition amplified by extreme flood
This study found that extreme flooding events dramatically increase the amount of plastic transported and deposited by rivers. During a major flood in the Netherlands, plastic transport rates surged and large amounts of plastic were deposited on riverbanks and floodplains. This matters because climate change is making extreme floods more frequent, which could spread plastic pollution into new areas and increase human exposure.
River export of macro- and microplastics to seas by sources worldwide
This global modeling study estimated that rivers carry about 500,000 tons of plastic into the ocean each year, with both large plastics and microplastics playing significant roles. In Europe, North America, and Oceania, microplastics from sewage are the dominant type in nearly 40 percent of river basins, while in Africa and Asia, larger plastic waste from poor waste management is the main problem. The study helps identify which areas need which types of pollution reduction strategies to protect both marine ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.
Toward sustainable environmental quality: Priority research questions for Europe
A horizon scanning exercise for Asia identified 23 priority research questions needed to advance sustainable environmental quality, covering environmental toxicology, chemistry, biological monitoring, and risk assessment methodologies relevant to the region's unique biodiversity and pollution pressures. The Asian focus highlights how globally identified environmental challenges manifest with distinctive characteristics in high-population, rapidly industrializing contexts.
Macroplastic concentrations in the water column of the river Rhine increase with higher discharge
Researchers used trawl nets at multiple depths in the Rhine River to track macroplastic pollution in the water column, finding that plastic concentrations rise sharply during high river discharge (flooding). During low-flow conditions, plastics accumulated near the riverbed, revealing that hydrology plays a key role in where and how much plastic moves through river systems.
The NORMAN Association and the European Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC): let’s cooperate!
Researchers from the NORMAN Network and EU's new PARC chemical safety program outlined how their combined expertise in emerging contaminants — including microplastics — and shared data tools can strengthen Europe's ability to detect and regulate newly identified chemical risks before they cause widespread harm.
A monitoring and data analysis method for microplastics in marine sediments
Researchers developed and validated a standardized monitoring and data analysis method for microplastics in marine sediments, identifying 13 polymer types across four Dutch coastal sites and finding that particle size distributions follow a power law, providing a replicable framework for MSFD and OSPAR regulatory monitoring programs.
River plastic transport and storage budget
This study provides the first systematic budget of how plastic moves through rivers and where it gets stored, finding that riverbanks and floodplains trap far more plastic than the surface water layer that is typically monitored. Rivers act not just as pipelines delivering plastic to the ocean but as large reservoirs that accumulate and slowly release plastic over time. Understanding this full storage picture is essential for estimating how much microplastic will eventually reach the ocean and for designing effective river cleanup strategies.
Defining Plastic Pollution Hotspots
This methodological paper reveals that defining a plastic pollution "hotspot" leads to wildly different results depending on the definition used — the proportion of locations identified as hotspots ranges from 0.8% to 93.3% depending on the statistical threshold applied. Because effective plastic pollution policy and cleanup prioritization depend on reliably identifying hotspots, the authors propose a step-wise framework requiring researchers to specify purpose, spatial scale, temporal scale, and threshold criteria before designating any area as a hotspot. Standardizing this terminology is essential for comparing studies and allocating limited remediation resources.
Sample size requirements for riverbank macrolitter characterization
This study determined how many litter samples are needed to reliably characterize riverbank debris, accounting for the wide variation in litter size, mass, and type. Current monitoring programs often underestimate litter abundance due to insufficient sample sizes. The findings provide practical guidance for designing more statistically robust litter monitoring programs.
From in-person to virtual engagement: Adaptations of a participative process for designing a marine litter public policy in Brazi
This paper describes the development and adaptation of the São Paulo Strategic Plan for Monitoring and Assessment of Marine Litter, Brazil's first public policy of its kind, from in-person to virtual participatory processes. It details how stakeholder engagement was maintained during the transition and the implications for marine litter governance.