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Title Sources, transport, and accumulation of different types of plastic litter in aquatic environments: A review study
ID_Doc 29972
Authors Schwarz, AE; Ligthart, TN; Boukris, E; van Harmelen, T
Title Sources, transport, and accumulation of different types of plastic litter in aquatic environments: A review study
Year 2019
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.029
Abstract Types of plastic waste in different aquatic environments were assessed to obtain a global framework of plastic waste transport and accumulation, relevant for plastic pollution mitigation strategies in aquatic environments. Packaging and consumer products were the most encountered product categories in rivers, while fishery items dominated in the oceanic environment. Plastics from electronics, building and construction, and transport were barely observed. For polymers, polyethylene and polypropylene contributed most to pollution in all environments. The highest diversity in polymer composition was found in oceanic and freshwater sediments. It is therefore argued that a large fraction of plastic waste accumulates here. This confirms that plastic waste transport and accumulation patterns were most affected by the density, surface area, and size of plastics. Only thick-walled, larger plastic debris from low-density polymers are transported through currents from rivers to ocean, while the larger fraction of plastic litter is likely retained in sediments or beaches.
Author Keywords Plastic waste; Composition; Transport; Accumulation; Ocean; Freshwater
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000473121200012
WoS Category Environmental Sciences; Marine & Freshwater Biology
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Marine & Freshwater Biology
PDF https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.029
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