Gaining new insights into macroplastic transport ‘hotlines’ and fine-scale retention-remobilisation using small floating high-resolution satellite drifters in the Chao Phraya River estuary of Bangkok

Mani, Thomas; Hawangchu, Yotwadee; Khamdahsag, Pummarin; Lohwacharin, Jenyuk; Phihusut, Doungkamon; Arsiranant, Isara; Junchompoo, Chalatip; Piemjaiswang, Ratchanon

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121124

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Especially, future experiments following the recent examples might bring better perspectives in order to advance in interaction with models our process understanding. 10,11,13,24,25 Based on our results, we suggest the following improvements to macroplastic fate modeling.…”

Section: ■ Concluding Remarksmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…To summarize, the presented model showed a high potential for further exploring macroplastic fate and transport in an aquatic environment. Especially, future experiments following the recent examples might bring better perspectives in order to advance in interaction with models our process understanding. ,,,, Based on our results, we suggest the following improvements to macroplastic fate modeling. The model retention processes are not yet able to distinguish among likely differences in behavior for different items (e.g., films vs bottles) due to missing process understanding and experimental data. This would be needed to provide better results for different groups of macroplastic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…26 Thus, higher discharge, or larger river width, decreased the probability of macroplastics being long-term stored and increased travel distance. 10,11,24,25 We assumed that retention probability per segment [p(Q)] would follow an exponential approximation toward 1 (100% retention) for very small discharges…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used average discharge false( Q x̅ false) to represent the large differences in maximum travel distance for plastic bottles observed by experiments in rivers with very different discharge. ,,, Additionally, width, which was found to be an important factor by Newbould et al, and discharge are known to positively correlate . Thus, higher discharge, or larger river width, decreased the probability of macroplastics being long-term stored and increased travel distance. ,,, …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Macroplastic Fate and Transport Modeling: Freshwaters Act as Main Reservoirs

Mennekes,

Mellink,

Schreyers

et al. 2024

ACS EST Water

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Macroplastic fate and transport in the freshwater environment are of great concern due to the potentially harmful effects of macroplastic on plants, animals, and humans. Here, we present a modeling approach to simulate macroplastic fate and transport at the country scale based on an existing plastic release model. The fate model was parametrized through available monitoring data and results from field experiments and applied to Swiss rivers and lakes. We found that almost all (98%) macroplastic emissions into freshwater remain within Switzerland. After exploring the influences of weirs, retention in rivers, and retention in lakes through a sensitivity analysis, we found a high retention variability across different catchments and within rivers. In all 22 analyzed scenarios for continuous retention along each river bank (i.e., beaching), we found that at least 70% of input emissions into the water bodies would be retained long-term in the catchments (about 200 g per river km and year). Across all catchments, we found a dominance of "continuous retention" through beaching along the entire river length compared with "point retention" at weirs or lakes. Thus, by modeling macroplastic fate and transport on a country level for the first time, we were able to confirm the concept of "rivers as plastic reservoirs" through modeling.

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Section: ■ Concluding Remarksmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Macroplastic Fate and Transport Modeling: Freshwaters Act as Main Reservoirs

Mennekes,

Mellink,

Schreyers

et al. 2024

ACS EST Water

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“…The river at Spijkenisse and Rotterdam in the Netherlands is influenced by the tide, with a bi-directional flow regime. In such cases, the net transport from tidal zone has been found to be relatively lowSchreyers et al (2022);Mani et al (2023). According toTramoy et al (2020), tidal influence combined with wind direction are important factors for plastic accumulation and remobilization in estuaries.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

From source to sea: Floating macroplastic transport along the Rhine river

Kuizenga¹,

Tasseron²,

Wendt-Pothoff³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Rivers are pathways and storage zones for plastic pollution. Land-based plastic waste enters river systems through anthropogenic and hydrometeorological processes, after which they are transported and retained. Only a fraction is assumed to make it into the ocean. Understanding and quantifying river plastic transport is important to optimize prevention and reduction strategies, and to evaluate the efficacy of any new regulations and interventions. To achieve this, consistent and reliable data are crucial. River plastic pollution monitoring is still an emerging field, especially river-scale plastic pollution assessments are limited to date. Here, we present an estimate of floating plastic transport and polymer characterization along the Rhine, from Switzerland to the river mouth in the Netherlands. We show that plastic transport is highly variable along the river, but with a significant increase towards the river mouth. High plastic transport was observed close to urban areas, and confluences with tributaries, suggesting both are likely to be entry points of plastic pollution. The largest plastic transport was measured in the estuary, which is explained by the tidal dynamics, limiting transport of plastic into the sea. Our results can be used as a baseline to compare with future assessments. Furthermore, the plastic transport and composition estimates can be directly compared to other rivers that applied the same approach, which may reduce the uncertainty in global river plastic emission simulations. With our study we aim to contribute to the development of a simple harmonized plastic monitoring approach to quantify plastic pollution at the river basin scale.

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