Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1021/acs.est.7b02368
Titel (primär) Export of plastic debris by rivers into the sea
Autor Schmidt, C.; Krauth, T.; Wagner, S.
Quelle Environmental Science & Technology
Erscheinungsjahr 2017
Department ANA; HDG
Band/Volume 51
Heft 21
Seite von 12246
Seite bis 12253
Sprache englisch
Supplements https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acs.est.7b02368
UFZ Querschnittsthemen RU2;
Abstract A substantial fraction of marine plastic debris originates from land-based sources and rivers potentially act as a major transport pathway for all sizes of plastic debris. We analyzed a global compilation of data on plastic debris in the water column across a wide range of river sizes. Plastic debris loads, both microplastic (particles <5 mm) and macroplastic (particles >5 mm) are positively related to the mismanaged plastic waste (MMPW) generated in the river catchments. This relationship is nonlinear where large rivers with  population-rich catchments delivering a disproportionately higher fraction of MMPW into the sea. The 10 top-ranked rivers transport 88–95% of the global load into the sea. Using MMPW as a predictor we calculate the global plastic debris inputs form rivers into the sea to range between 0.41 and 4 × 106 t/y. Due to the limited amount of data high uncertainties were expected and ultimately confirmed. The empirical analysis to quantify plastic loads in rivers can be extended easily by additional potential predictors other than MMPW, for example, hydrological conditions.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=19342
Schmidt, C., Krauth, T., Wagner, S. (2017):
Export of plastic debris by rivers into the sea
Environ. Sci. Technol. 51 (21), 12246 - 12253 10.1021/acs.est.7b02368