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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Monitoring and Promoting Citizen Engagement in Assessing the Ecological Status of Ave River: A Case Study in Northern Portugal
ClearCitizens' awareness and education for tackling microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems
Researchers evaluated microplastic abundance in freshwater sediments and benthic macroinvertebrates at four sites with varying anthropogenic pressure along the Costa/Couros River in Portugal, combining pollution monitoring with citizen awareness and education initiatives. They found higher microplastic levels at sites with greater human activity pressure and detected microplastics inside macroinvertebrate gut contents across all sites, highlighting the dual utility of scientific monitoring and public engagement for driving microplastic mitigation strategies.
Qualitative and quantitative assessment of Microplastic Pollution in waters and sediments of the Ave River estuary (Portugal)
This study conducted qualitative and quantitative assessment of microplastic pollution in the Ave River in Portugal, which has historically been one of the most polluted rivers in the country, examining water and sediment samples across the catchment. Microplastics were found throughout the river system, with concentrations reflecting land use patterns and the river's role as a conduit to the ocean.
Microplastic Contamination and Ecological Status of Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study in Two Northern Portuguese Rivers
Microplastic contamination was assessed in sediments and Oligochaeta gut contents across two rivers with different ecological status scores, finding that urbanization rather than ecological status was the primary driver of sediment microplastic abundance. The results indicate that ecological quality indices alone are insufficient for tracking microplastic pollution in freshwater systems.
Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in River Ecosystems: Effect of Land Use and Biotic Indices
Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in Spanish river ecosystems and found that concentrations in both water and sediment were strongly linked to surrounding urban land use. They discovered that traditional water quality assessments based on biological indicators do not capture microplastic contamination effectively. The study suggests that new monitoring approaches are needed to account for this emerging pollutant in river health evaluations.
The potential for freshwater citizen science to engage and empower: a case study of the Rivers Trusts, United Kingdom
Researchers examined freshwater citizen science programs run by UK Rivers Trusts, finding that volunteer monitoring of water quality, plastic pollution, and invasive species effectively engaged communities and in some cases led directly to pollution source remediation.
First evidence of microplastics in a freshwater river and their relationship to water quality
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in a freshwater river used for recreational purposes and found a significant relationship between microplastic abundance and water physicochemical quality parameters, along with the presence of three organic compounds, providing evidence that microplastic pollution and water quality are closely linked.
Have You Ever Seen a Microplastic? A Collaborative High School–Academia Approach for Identification, Quantification and Raising Awareness of Microplastics in a River Crossing Urban Area
Researchers designed a high school–university collaboration where students collected water samples from an urban river, identified microplastics by microscopy, and contributed to local pollution mapping — demonstrating that student-led citizen science can meaningfully advance microplastic monitoring while raising environmental awareness.
Microplastic pollution in the Tagus River: Distribution and abundance from the the river mouth to the Portuguese border
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic presence in the Portuguese stretch of the Tagus River, characterizing particle distribution and abundance in a major inland waterway that has been understudied compared to marine and coastal systems. Microplastics were detected throughout the sampled river stretch, with spatial patterns reflecting land use and wastewater inputs along the catchment.
Comparison of the macro-, meso- and microplastic pollution in French riverbanks and beaches using citizen science with schoolchildren
Researchers conducted a citizen science initiative with French schoolchildren to compare macro-, meso-, and microplastic pollution across 86 riverbank and beach sites, finding that riverbanks accumulated distinct plastic assemblages compared to beaches. The study demonstrated that schoolchildren can generate reliable comparative litter data, and highlighted rivers as underrepresented yet critical plastic transport pathways to the ocean.
Monitoring biological water quality by volunteers complements professional assessments
Researchers found that volunteer-collected macroinvertebrate data from a Dutch citizen science program generated water quality assessments closely comparable to professional assessments, demonstrating that community monitoring can meaningfully complement conventional biological water quality monitoring.
Monitoring contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic systems through the lens of citizen science
This study explores how citizen science can help monitor contaminants of emerging concern, including micro- and nanoplastics, in aquatic systems, addressing the geographic and temporal gaps in current professional monitoring networks.
Schoolchildren discover hotspots of floating plastic litter in rivers using a large-scale collaborative approach
A large-scale citizen science project involving schoolchildren detected microplastic hotspots in rivers across multiple European countries, demonstrating that collaborative monitoring can generate spatially extensive data on riverine plastic pollution.
Saúde ambiental de praias arenosas: distribuição e níveis de contaminação na biodiversidade bêntica
This Portuguese-language study assessed environmental health of sandy beaches in Brazil, measuring microplastic distribution, contamination indices, and bioindicator organisms to evaluate ecological status and identify pollution sources along the coastline.
Development of a holistic approach for river health assessment: from bioindicators to the ecosystem
Researchers combined chemical, ecological, and fish biomarker data in a citizen-science assessment of the Elsa River in Italy, finding that water quality and ecological health declined progressively downstream, with microplastic ingestion by chub fish peaking near urbanized zones alongside genotoxic effects linked to mercury and organic pollutants.
Qualitative and quantitative assessment of Microplastic Pollution in waters and sediments of the Ave River estuary (Portugal)
This study assessed microplastic pollution levels and distribution in the Ave River estuary and coastal waters of Portugal, characterizing particle types and concentrations to quantify the plastic load transferred from this heavily impacted river to the marine environment. Results showed the estuary acts as both a sink and a source for microplastics depending on tidal and flow conditions.
Citizen science sampling programs as a technique for monitoring microplastic pollution: results, lessons learned and recommendations for working with volunteers for monitoring plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems
Volunteers monitored microplastic contamination along 550 km of the Ottawa River in Canada using a standardized method, finding microplastics at almost every sampling site. Citizen science programs like this show promise for scaling up microplastic monitoring at low cost.
Seasonal Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Microplastics in the Lis River, Portugal
Researchers investigated seasonal microplastic abundance and distribution in Portugal's Lis River Basin across nine sites, finding fibres and fragments dominated in both water and sediment, with polyethylene the most common polymer in water. Population density, plastic processing companies, and meteorological factors were all associated with seasonal variation in microplastic patterns.
Unseen contaminants in Portuguese reservoirs: linking microplastics to ecological potential and human pressures
Water samples from two Portuguese reservoirs (Rabagão and Aguieira) collected throughout 2023 revealed microplastic contamination correlated with ecological quality indicators and proximity to human pressures, suggesting MPs should be incorporated into freshwater quality assessments.
Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal)
This study tracked the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater lake, finding seasonal variation in microplastic concentrations and identifying local land use and runoff as key drivers of contamination patterns.
Microplastic pollution in the Tagus River: Distribution and abundance from the the river mouth to the Portuguese border
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in the Tagus River for the first time from its source through tidal zones, examining spatial distribution and abundance. The study found widespread microplastic contamination throughout the river, with higher concentrations in areas of greater human activity.
Comparison of macrolitter and meso- and microplastic pollution on French riverbanks and coastal beaches using citizen science with schoolchildren
A citizen science project with 3,113 French schoolchildren sampled 81 riverbanks and 66 coastal beaches, collecting 55,986 plastic pieces, and found that riverbanks had comparable plastic pollution levels to beaches, highlighting rivers as underrecognized plastic accumulation zones.
Microplastics contamination in sediments from Portuguese inland waters: Physical-chemical characterisation and distribution
Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in sediments from Portuguese inland freshwater systems, identifying particle shapes, sizes, and polymer types to establish baseline contamination levels and inform strategies for reducing plastic accumulation in freshwater environments.
Citizen Science for Assessment of Microplastics on Beaches: A Case Study in Mexico
Researchers used a citizen science approach involving 26 volunteers to assess microplastic abundance and type on Mexican beaches, providing broad geographic coverage at lower cost than traditional monitoring. Participants used standardized materials and training to collect and identify microplastics, generating a representative database that also raised public awareness of coastal plastic pollution.
Microplastics in Water, Sediments and Macroinvertebrates in a Small River of NW Spain
This preprint study characterized microplastics in water, sediments, and macroinvertebrates in a small river in northwest Spain. The authors subsequently requested removal of the paper from the preprint server.