Image Credit: Grid-Arendal.
The team superimposed maps of coastal ecosystems with the latest data on the input of river-borne plastic to sea to determine which coastal environments are more prone to be highly impacted by plastic pollution with origin on land.
The study discovered that 52% of river-borne plastic pollution reaches river deltas, though they constitute not more than 1% of global coastlines. On the other hand, rocky shores receive just 6% of the plastic pollution, though they constitute 73% of global coastlines. Coastal environments of all types are affected by river-borne plastic pollution.
Moreover, the researchers evaluated the exposure of mangroves, saltmarsh, seagrass, and coral reefs to rivers that release high amounts of plastic into the sea, more than one tonne annually.
Mangroves were the highly influenced of all, with 54% of mangrove areas situated next to at least one of these highly polluting rivers. Coral reefs were the least influenced among the four habitats, with just 17% of coral reefs situated within 20 km of a river that releases over a tonne of plastic pollution annually.
Southeast Asia is highly impacted by river-borne plastic pollution compared to any other region worldwide. Earlier studies have predicted that 86% of plastic pollution goes into the ocean from Asian rivers.
This is one of the causes as to why mangroves in Southeast Asia are particularly susceptible to plastic pollution. The researchers discovered that coral reefs in Southeast Asia are highly affected by marine plastic compared to reefs in most other regions of the world, while coral reefs in Australia seem to have escaped a major impact from plastic pollution.
To effectively fight the growing problem of marine plastic pollution, we need to know how plastic waste is distributed and which ecosystems are most affected. Now that we know mangroves have a higher likelihood of being severely affected by plastic waste, leaders can take steps to protect these critical habitats.
Peter Harris, Study Lead Author and Managing Director, GRID-Arendal
The researchers of the study suggest that authorities should prioritize a decrease in plastic pollution in regions where rivers enter the sea next to sensitive and protected ecosystems.
Journal Reference:
Harris, P. T., et al. (2021) Exposure of coastal environments to river-sourced plastic pollution. Science of the Total Environment. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145222.