Sources and sinks of plastic debris in estuaries: A conceptual model integrating biological, physical and chemical distribution mechanisms

Vermeiren, Peter; Muñoz, Cynthia C.; Ikejima, Kou

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.002

Cited by 163 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…It is estimated that 16-20 trillion microplastic particles (i.e., 537.6-905.9 tons) enter the East China Sea via the Yangtze River each year [20]. In the estuaries, the distribution of microplastics is affected by hydrodynamic forces (waves, tides, and currents) in aquatic systems [45,46]. Plastic particles repeatedly transport offshore and onshore, with some being trapped in enclosed waters [47,48].…”

Section: Distribution Characteristics Of Microplastics Around the Yanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in surface water and sediments of Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China

Zheng

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Eur

153

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Background: The Yangtze Estuary acts as gateways where microplastics transport from freshwater into marine environments, with one of the largest discharge volumes in the world. The occurrence of microplastics in surface water and sediments of the Yangtze Estuary has been reported. However, little is known about microplastics in and around Chongming Island in the estuary. In this study, the distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Chongming Island was investigated and compared in different environmental medium.Results: Abundances of microplastics in surface water and sediments were in the ranges of 0-259 items m − 3 and 10-60 items kg − 1 dry weight, respectively. Microplastics were more abundant in the surface water of the Yangtze River shores than in the inland rivers (p < 0.01). Proportions in fiber form in surface water and sediment were 33% and 67%; and those in fragment form were 39% and 24%. Most particles (> 72%) were < 1 mm in the longest dimension; 65% were white and 30% were transparent. Of the 11 compositions identified, polyethylene, polypropylene, and α-cellulose predominated in both phases.Conclusion: This is the first study to focus on microplastics in inland watercourses on Chongming Island and along the Yangtze River's shores in both phases. There were differences between the island and estuary in composition and density due to the distinct vertical mixing processes. The in situ filtration of surface water (100 L) sampling method was well employed in various freshwater environments and free of plastic materials in front of the filter, analysis results of which provided an important baseline reference for evaluating microplastic pollution in the Yangtze Estuary. Publisher's NoteSpringer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Section: Distribution Characteristics Of Microplastics Around the Yanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics in surface water and sediments of Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China

Zheng

et al. 2020

Environ Sci Eur

153

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“…However, very little is known about the transfer dynamic of plastics through rivers and in particular through estuaries. Estuaries are at the land-ocean interface and are very specific hydrosystems characterized by alternate flow directions and the fresh and salt water mixing related to tidal dynamic (Perillo, 1995;Vermeiren et al, 2016). Because of the tides, water depth in estuaries changes and banks are alternatively submerged and uncovered, which enables the buildup of a foreshore made of natural and anthropogenic debris, including plastics, depending on their buoyancy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This leads to the transfer of debris to areas far from the main channel, even disconnected ones. Other variables like vertical mixing, debris densities, or wind influence their dynamics, with greater accumulation of plastic on shorelines at downwind sites (Brown et al, 1991;Browne et al, 2010;Vermeiren et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of their specific behavior, estuaries may greatly influence the plastic debris dynamics. However, the origin, fate and typical residence time of plastics in those environments remain poorly understood, and up to now it is not clear whether estuaries function as net sources or sinks of plastic litter (Sadri and Thompson, 2014;Naidoo et al, 2015;Vermeiren et al, 2016;Schwarz et al, 2019;Krelling and Turra, 2019). More than sources or sinks, estuaries are pathways with a retention capacity of plastics and the question would be: "are estuaries fast or slow pathways for plastics?"…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transfer dynamic of macroplastics in estuaries — New insights from the Seine estuary: Part 1. Long term dynamic based on date-prints on stranded debris

Tramoy

Gaspéri

Colasse³

et al. 2020

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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Rivers are a major pathway for plastics between lands and the ocean. At the land-ocean interface, estuaries make the transfer dynamic of plastics complex and nonlinear. That is why very little is known about this dynamic. In this respect, a specific marker (i.e. Microlax packaging) showing date-prints was systematically investigated in different riverbanks of the Seine estuary to identify the share of "old" and "recent" litter transiting through the estuary toward the ocean. Up to 70% of Microlax were "old" plastic items probably related to the meandering dynamic of the river over large time and space scales, and hydrodynamic conditions (tides) at smaller scales. This contributes together to increase the residence time of plastics into the estuary up to decades with almost endless transport, deposit and remobilization cycles. Consequently, the Seine estuary may function as a "microplastic factory" resulting from the fragmentation of macroplastics into microplastics well before they reach the ocean.

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“…Estuaries have become highly vulnerable to this pressure, due to the continuous input of municipal, agricultural and industrial runoff, storm water discharges and accidental wastewater overflows (de los Ríos et al 2016;Risch et al 2018;Rodrigues et al 2017;Willis et al 2017). These stressors, added to the increase in sedimentation have made estuaries a sink for pollutants with affinity for small particles (Reichelt-Brushett et al 2017;Swales et al 2012;Vermeiren et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "Assessment of the ecotoxicity of urban estuarine sediment using benthic and pelagic copepod bioassays (v0.1)"

2018

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Urban estuarine sediments are sinks to a range of contaminants of anthropogenic origin, and a key challenge is to characterize the risk of these compounds to receiving environments. In this study, the toxicity of urban estuarine sediments was tested using acute and chronic bioassays in the benthic harpacticoid Quinquelaophonte sp., and in the planktonic calanoid Gladioferens pectinatus, two New Zealand copepod species. The sediment samples from the estuary tributary sites significantly impacted reproduction in Quinquelaophonte sp. However, results from one of the estuary sites were not significantly different to those from the tributaries sites, suggesting that chemicals other than trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ammonia may be the causative stressors.Sediment elutriate samples had significant effects on reproductive endpoints in G.pectinatus, and on the induction of DNA damage in cells, as shown by the comet assay.The results indicate that sediment contamination at the Ahuriri Estuary has the potential to impact biological processes of benthic and pelagic organisms. The approach used provides a standardised methodology to assess the toxicity of estuarine sediments.PeerJ reviewing PDF |

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Sources and sinks of plastic debris in estuaries: A conceptual model integrating biological, physical and chemical distribution mechanisms

Cited by 163 publications

References 81 publications

Microplastics in surface water and sediments of Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China

Microplastics in surface water and sediments of Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China

Transfer dynamic of macroplastics in estuaries — New insights from the Seine estuary: Part 1. Long term dynamic based on date-prints on stranded debris

Peer Review #1 of "Assessment of the ecotoxicity of urban estuarine sediment using benthic and pelagic copepod bioassays (v0.1)"

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