Abstract
The wide-spread use and persistence of plastics in the environment have placed them on the list of significant emerging pollutants. In contrast to marine environments, the analysis of plastic debris, including microplastics (particles <5 mm in maximum diameter), in freshwater systems is limited, and even fewer studies have examined microplastics in riverine sediments. Nonetheless, it has become clear that microplastics are now a ubiquitous component of riverine ecosystems and their distribution is dependent on anthropogenic inputs and the physical and chemical processes that control their transport, transformation, and deposition along the drainage network. In many ways, the transport and fate of microplastics will parallel that of other particulate matter that has been extensively studied for at least the last 50 years. Here, we briefly explore the application of a geomorphic approach to the assessment of sediment-contaminated rivers to the microplastic problem, and argue that future studies can significantly benefit by incorporating the principles of this approach into their analyses.
Highlights
The ability to mold synthetic polymers into an infinite variety of shapes, combined with their versatile nature in terms of weight, strength, durability, melting point, and chemical reactivity have made them virtually indispensable in modern manufacturing
The development of synthetic polymers began in the late 1800s [1], but it was not until the 1950s that plastics were produced on an industrial scale
Primary plastics include plastic beads used in cleaners and cosmetic products, and manufactured pellets used as feedstock in plastic production
Summary
The ability to mold synthetic polymers (plastics) into an infinite variety of shapes, combined with their versatile nature in terms of weight, strength, durability, melting point, and chemical reactivity have made them virtually indispensable in modern manufacturing. Their abundance has been most extensively documented for oceanic waters, where modeling estimates suggest that there may be more than about 5 trillion particles, weighing between 7,000 [9] and more than 250,000 [10] metric tons floating in the world’s oceans. Klein et al [13] measured concentrations of MPs in the River Tame that reached 517,000 particles m-2, one of the highest abundances ever reported These data suggest that in addition to the potential impacts of MPs on lotic ecosystems, rivers serve as an important sink and regulator of microplastic transport to marine environments; as much as 80 % of plastic in the world’s oceans may have originated from rivers [22,23]. We highlight a few of the studies that are immediately needed to more fully understand the sources, transport and fate of plastics in riverine ecosystems
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