Chapter 10 - Riverine inputs of land-based microplastics and affiliated hydrophobic organic contaminants to the global oceans

Abstract

The ubiquity of (micro)plastics and the affiliated hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in aquatic environments has gained increasing global attention. This chapter compiled and systematically analyzed available data in the literature to provide an overview on the riverine inputs of (micro)plastics to global oceans and (micro)plastics-affiliated HOCs in riverine runoff and their riverine outflows to the oceans. The results indicate that aside from global riverine plastic inputs, per capita contributions should also be paid attention, which allows for better assessing the contributions from each country/region to global marine plastic pollution. As the global population will inevitably increase with time, reducing the per capita contributions to the global riverine plastic outflow is of utmost importance, especially for countries with high per capita plastic waste generation. Microplastics also act as an important carrier for HOCs in the environment. Although the contribution of plastics to the overall riverine inputs of HOCs was considered insignificant, the transport of plastics-associated chemicals to the oceans, which may subsequently be ingested by marine organisms, may play an important role in bioaccumulation of HOCs in marine environments.