River research reveals scale of macroplastic pollution

Date:
September 21, 2021
Source:
University of Leicester
Summary:
Plastic pollution clogs river systems for considerably longer than
previously thought, new research shows.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Plastic pollution clogs river systems for considerably longer than
previously thought, new research from the University of Leicester shows.


========================================================================== Macroplastics -- or plastic litter more than 5mm in size -- travel much
slower through river systems than previously believed, at an average speed
of less than 0.01 km per hour, and can remain in place for significant
periods of time.

If not removed, not only may this pollution eventually emerge in the
ocean, but it is also likely to negatively impact marine wildlife and
human uses of river systems. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common material for single-use plastic bottles, requires UV light to break down
over more than 450 years1.

A proof of concept study, believed to be one of the first studies of its
kind, was led by Robert Newbould, a PhD researcher within the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment at Leicester, alongside Dr Mark
Powell and Professor Mick Whelan.

The study involved tracking 90 PET sample plastic bottle 'tracers'
released into a tributary of the River Soar near Wistow, Leicester. The
average travel distance for each tracer was 231m in 24 hours, with the
furthest distance recorded at just under 1.1km.

Robert said: "We were surprised at how easily the plastic bottles were
trapped and their relatively low travel distances.

"Our work supports other research that existing estimates of riverine
plastic flux to the ocean may have been overestimated, but more research
is needed to confirm this." Researchers recovered 96% of plastic
tracers from the river system at the conclusion of the experiment, and
also retrieved other litter to ensure a net reduction in macroplastic pollution.

The study was completed while Robert completed an MPhil in Physical
Geography.

His PhD is supported by the Central England NERC Training Alliance
(CENTA), a consortium of six research-intensive Universities and research institutes working within the remit of the Natural Environment Research
Council (NERC).

The University of Leicester is also home to the Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, which carries out discovery-led and applied research
to address pressing global challenges, often in collaboration with
industrial partners.

Research themes include Earth Observation methods for better ecosystem monitoring, understanding human interactions with the environment,
plus water and carbon cycle connections.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Leicester. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Robert A. Newbould, D. Mark Powell, Michael J. Whelan. Macroplastic
Debris Transfer in Rivers: A Travel Distance Approach. Frontiers
in Water, 2021; 3 DOI: 10.3389/frwa.2021.724596 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210921172726.htm

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