We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Quantification, characterization, and source identification of macro- and mesoplastics in the water column of Rivers Sabaki and Tana.
ClearSeasonal Abundance and Types of Microplastics in Surface Waters of River Sabaki Estuary, Kenya
Researchers conducted a twelve-month sampling survey at the Sabaki River estuary in Kenya in 2022, collecting monthly water samples sieved at 225 μm to characterise seasonal abundance and morphological types of microplastics in surface waters. The study addressed a gap in temporal microplastic data from tropical African estuaries, where limited research had previously been conducted.
Global plastic export by rivers: large differences in trends between microplastics and macroplastics
A global analysis modeled river export of both micro- and macroplastics to the sea, finding large divergences in trends between the two size classes and highlighting that models focused solely on macroplastics significantly underestimate total riverine plastic inputs to the ocean.
Proximity to coast and major rivers influence the density of floating microplastics and other litter in east African coastal waters
Using neuston net and bulk water sampling off the east African coast, this study found that proximity to coast and major rivers strongly predicted floating microplastic and litter density, with concentrations far exceeding open ocean background levels near populated coastal zones.
A Methodology to Characterize Riverine Macroplastic Emission Into the Ocean
This paper presents a standardized methodology for measuring and characterizing macroplastic emissions from rivers into the ocean, addressing a major data gap in global plastic budget estimates. Consistent measurement frameworks are essential for understanding how much plastic enters the ocean from land-based sources via rivers.
How flooding rivers deliver plastic to the ocean: A case study of microplastic and mesoplastic load–discharge relationships
A field study tracked how a flooding river delivered plastic debris to the ocean, mapping the rapid transport of macroplastics and microplastics during a high-flow event. The research shows that floods are major episodic drivers of plastic export from land to sea, contributing disproportionately to ocean plastic budgets.
Direkte Mikro- und Makroplastiktransportmessungen an großen und mittleren Flüssen sowie im Ablauf von Kläranlagen
This German-language study presents direct measurements of micro- and macroplastic transport in large and medium-sized rivers as well as wastewater treatment plant effluents. It addresses a research gap in freshwater plastic transport quantification, providing empirical data on how rivers carry plastics toward marine environments.
River plastic transport and storage budget.
This global synthesis estimated the plastic transport and storage budget for rivers by measuring plastic in the water surface, water column, riverbanks, and floodplains — finding that far more plastic is stored within rivers than is transported to the ocean. The study challenges the assumption that rivers are primarily conduits and highlights them as major long-term plastic reservoirs.
Relative contributions of different local sources to riverborne microplastic in a mixed landuse area within a tropical catchment
Researchers quantified the relative contributions of different land-use sources to riverborne microplastics in a tropical catchment, providing data to help prioritize pollution reduction measures for protecting human and ecological health.
A multidimensional approach for microplastics monitoring in two major tropical river basins, Malaysia
Researchers conducted a multidimensional assessment of microplastic distribution in surface waters of two major Malaysian river basins, providing much-needed field data on microplastic emissions from Asian rivers known to be major contributors to ocean pollution.
A Comprehensive Review of MP Pollution in Global Rivers: Distribution Patterns and Fluvial Transport Dynamics
A global review of microplastic pollution in river sediments found the highest concentrations in Africa and Asia, with wastewater treatment plants, industrial discharges, and urban runoff as the primary sources, and rivers transporting an estimated 70–80% of land-based plastic waste to the oceans. This synthesis underscores that rivers are critical intervention points for reducing the flow of microplastics into marine ecosystems.
The first report on the source-to-sink characterization of microplastic pollution from a riverine environment in tropical India
This first source-to-sink study of microplastic pollution in a tropical Indian river system tracked microplastics from urban sources through the river to estuarine and coastal deposition zones, characterizing polymer types and morphologies at each stage.
A baseline study of macro, meso and micro litter in the Belize River basin, from catchment to coast
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.
Estimation of macroplastic yield from river basin to coastal area: A case study of the Klang River, Malaysia
Researchers studied macroplastic distribution along a 20-kilometer stretch of the highly polluted Klang River in Malaysia and developed a method to estimate total plastic yield from the river basin to the coast. They found 240 items of weathered macroplastics and characterized their composition and degradation patterns. The study provides a practical protocol for quantifying how much plastic pollution flows from rivers into coastal marine environments.
Limited role of discharge in global river plastic transport
A new modeling framework proposes that riverine plastic transport is driven primarily by plastic availability in the catchment rather than river discharge, challenging the assumption that high-flow events are the main driver of plastic export to the ocean.
Occurrence of microplastic pollution in rivers globally: Driving factors of distribution and ecological risk assessment
Researchers constructed a global dataset of microplastic pollution across 862 river water and 445 sediment samples, identifying population density, GDP, and plastic waste generation as key driving factors of riverine microplastic distribution and ecological risk.
Trajectory, fate, and magnitude of continental microplastic loads to the inner shelf: A case study of the world's largest coastal shallow lagoon
Researchers modeled the continental-scale transport and eventual fate of microplastics, estimating how particles move from terrestrial sources through river systems to coastal and open ocean environments. The analysis highlights oceans as the ultimate sink for a large fraction of land-derived microplastics.
Assessment of microplastics in water and sediment from Megech river, major tributary to Lake Tana
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the Megech River in Ethiopia, finding an average of 0.55 microplastic particles per liter in surface water and 19.39 particles per kilogram in sediment, with higher concentrations near urban areas. This baseline study highlights how growing plastic use in developing nations is reaching even freshwater systems in East Africa.
Macroplastic Debris Transfer in Rivers: A Travel Distance Approach
A travel-distance modeling approach was applied to macroplastic debris in rivers, finding that plastic transport is strongly episodic and controlled by flood events, with smaller and more buoyant items traveling farther, and riverine inputs to the ocean likely underestimated by sampling methods that miss high-flow transport pulses.
Seasonal dynamics of micro- and nanoplastics and associated pollutants in Aarin River: Insights into abundance and digestion impact
Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastics in Nigeria's Aarin River across two seasons, finding higher particle counts during the rainy season (up to 130 particles per liter in water) alongside elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. The data highlight how seasonal rainfall flushes plastics and co-contaminants into West African freshwater systems that communities rely on, yet which remain severely understudied.
Baseline Study on Microplastics in Indian Rivers under Different Anthropogenic Influences
Researchers collected microplastic samples from Indian rivers under different levels of anthropogenic influence and found MPs in all sites, with concentrations correlating with population density and industrial activity, providing one of the first systematic field datasets for major Indian river systems.
Microplastic particles in river sediments and water of southwestern Nigeria: insights on the occurrence, seasonal distribution, composition, and source apportionment
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in river water and sediments across southwestern Nigeria, providing some of the first baseline data for the region. They found microplastics at every sampling site, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms, and concentrations varying by season and location. The study points to urban runoff, agricultural activities, and inadequate waste management as the primary sources of this pollution.
Riverine macroplastic monitoring in Myanmar: sources and pollution dynamics in the Bago River
Researchers conducted the first study of macroplastic pollution in Myanmar's Bago River, finding that Bago City acts as a major pollution source and that dry-season conditions produce the highest plastic flows, with food packaging and plastic bags being the dominant litter types. Tidal flooding was found to recirculate plastic back into the river, complicating cleanup and underscoring the need for targeted waste management policies.
Modelling global river export of microplastics to the marine environment: Sources and future trends
Researchers developed the GREMiS model to estimate global river export of microplastics to the ocean, projecting that annual marine inputs will increase significantly under business-as-usual plastic production scenarios.
Effects of urbanisation and a wastewater treatment plant on microplastic densities along a subtropical river system
Researchers quantified microplastic pollution in sediments along a subtropical river system in southern Africa and examined how urbanization and wastewater treatment affect contamination levels. They found that microplastic densities were highest near urban areas and downstream of wastewater treatment plants. The study suggests that urban development and inadequate wastewater infrastructure are key drivers of freshwater microplastic pollution in the region.