Abstract
Riverbanks are an important source of plastic pollution. However, the current assessment methods for riverbank litter are based on a point-based sampling which is time consuming and limited in scope. To quickly assess hotspot areas and litter compositions in larger areas, this study developed a new citizen science bicycle survey for riverine debris. Covering 281.5 km of the Tamsui river system in Taiwan, the new methodology was tested at one of the most plastics polluted rivers in the world. The results revealed an average litter density of 15.3 m3/km at the river mouth and of 0.2 m3/km to 2.8 m3/km along the riverbanks further upstream. The coastline was mainly polluted by derelict fishing gear whereas single-use plastics and illegally dumped waste dominated the upstream areas. A correlation between litter and population density could not be identified, but it was noted that litter hotspots occur at cut banks and near mangrove vegetation. Overall, the new methodology proved suitable to collect large quantities of data for scientific purposes and to quickly detect litter accumulations prior to clean-up activities.
Highlights
IntroductionIts main impacts to marine life include entanglement and ingestion [2,3], but it can spread invasive species [4], leak toxic additives [5], and contaminate the human foodchain [6]
Marine litter poses a severe threat to marine life, human health, and the economy [1].Its main impacts to marine life include entanglement and ingestion [2,3], but it can spread invasive species [4], leak toxic additives [5], and contaminate the human foodchain [6]
Research about plastic pollution in rivers was focused on microplastic pollution and on discharge models that estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the oceans [13]
Summary
Its main impacts to marine life include entanglement and ingestion [2,3], but it can spread invasive species [4], leak toxic additives [5], and contaminate the human foodchain [6]. At an estimated annual input of 1.15–2.41 million tonnes, rivers are a key pathway for land-based plastic waste into the ocean [11,12]. Research about plastic pollution in rivers was focused on microplastic pollution and on discharge models that estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the oceans [13]. Little attention was paid to macroplastics which represent most riverine waste [13,14]. To effectively prevent and reduce marine litter, there is a need to better understand riverine macroplastics waste
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