Sebastian Pessenlehner, Philipp Gmeiner, Helmut Habersack, Marcel Liedermann
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It comprehensively analyzes the complex dynamics of plastic transport in the Danube River, contrasting an impounded section near Aschach, Austria, with a free-flowing reach near Hainburg, Austria. The paper emphasizes the significance of applying these methodologies for accurate flux determination and underscores the risks of neglecting them. By incorporating average microplastic particle weights, we aim to overcome limitations in prior methodologies that solely emphasize qualitative aspects or rely on item numbers. Spatial distribution analysis revealed a pronounced stratification at low flow and a more variable distribution in the free-flowing section, attributed to higher turbulence. As discharge increased, vertical mixing occurred, along with distinct lateral patterns displaying increased concentrations toward the riverbanks. Encountering plastic particles throughout the river profile underscores their properties of both suspended and floating matter, emphasizing the importance of hydro-morphology and multi-point cross-sectional measurement approaches. Microplastic loads were calculated to be &lt;6.9 t a<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in Aschach and &lt;17.1 t a<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in Hainburg, compared to total plastic loads of &lt;14.3 t a<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in Aschach and &lt;41.6 t a<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in Hainburg. Consequently, plastic loads were doubled to tripled within the Austrian section of the Danube River. The study contributes valuable insights into the complex nature of plastic transport in river systems, emphasizing comprehensive spatial, temporal and discharge-dependent assessments for characterizing and managing plastic pollution. It suggests that rivers can function as sources, pathways and sinks of plastic pollution, contingent upon hydro-morphological conditions. 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By incorporating average microplastic particle weights, we aim to overcome limitations in prior methodologies that solely emphasize qualitative aspects or rely on item numbers. Spatial distribution analysis revealed a pronounced stratification at low flow and a more variable distribution in the free-flowing section, attributed to higher turbulence. As discharge increased, vertical mixing occurred, along with distinct lateral patterns displaying increased concentrations toward the riverbanks. Encountering plastic particles throughout the river profile underscores their properties of both suspended and floating matter, emphasizing the importance of hydro-morphology and multi-point cross-sectional measurement approaches. 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引用次数: 0
摘要
水生环境中的塑料污染日益受到关注,而河流被认为是主要的污染途径。然而,河流本身也会受到污染。因此,了解河流塑料迁移动态对于减轻环境影响至关重要。尽管与塑料相关的研究重点已从海洋环境转向河流,但在标准化监测方法以及将河流塑料发生的时空变化纳入通量确定方面仍存在挑战。本研究采用沉积物研究的既定方法来应对这些挑战。利用基于网状断面的多点方法获得的数据,研究了时空变化和与排水量相关的变化。论文全面分析了多瑙河塑性迁移的复杂动态,将奥地利阿沙赫附近的蓄水河段与奥地利海恩堡附近的自由流动河段进行了对比。论文强调了应用这些方法准确测定通量的重要性,并强调了忽视这些方法的风险。通过纳入微塑料颗粒的平均重量,我们旨在克服以往方法中仅强调定性或依赖项目数量的局限性。空间分布分析表明,在低流量时有明显的分层现象,而在自由流动段的分布则更加多变,这归因于较高的湍流。随着排水量的增加,出现了垂直混合现象,同时显示出明显的横向模式,即向河岸的浓度增加。在整个河流剖面上都能遇到塑料微粒,这突出了它们既是悬浮物又是漂浮物的特性,强调了水文形态学和多点断面测量方法的重要性。经计算,阿沙赫和海恩堡的微塑料负荷分别为 <6.9 t a-1 和 <17.1 t a-1,而阿沙赫和海恩堡的总塑料负荷分别为 <14.3 t a-1 和 <41.6 t a-1。因此,多瑙河奥地利河段的塑性负荷增加了一倍到两倍。这项研究对河流系统中塑料迁移的复杂性提供了宝贵的见解,强调了对塑料污染的特征描述和管理进行全面的空间、时间和排放评估。研究表明,河流可作为塑料污染的源头、途径和汇,这取决于水文地貌条件。这强调了进行纵向、全流域评估以准确了解塑料迁移动态的必要性。
Understanding the spatio-temporal behaviour of riverine plastic transport and its significance for flux determination: insights from direct measurements in the Austrian Danube River
Plastic pollution in aquatic environments is a growing concern, with rivers recognized as major pathways. However, rivers themselves are also subject to pollution. Hence, understanding riverine plastic transport dynamics is essential for mitigating environmental impacts. Although plastic-related research focus has shifted from marine environments towards rivers, challenges remain in standardizing methods for monitoring and integrating spatio-temporal variabilities of riverine plastic occurrence into flux determination. This study addresses these challenges by adopting established methods from sediment research. Utilizing data from a net-based cross-sectional multi-point approach, it examines spatio-temporal and discharge-dependent variations. It comprehensively analyzes the complex dynamics of plastic transport in the Danube River, contrasting an impounded section near Aschach, Austria, with a free-flowing reach near Hainburg, Austria. The paper emphasizes the significance of applying these methodologies for accurate flux determination and underscores the risks of neglecting them. By incorporating average microplastic particle weights, we aim to overcome limitations in prior methodologies that solely emphasize qualitative aspects or rely on item numbers. Spatial distribution analysis revealed a pronounced stratification at low flow and a more variable distribution in the free-flowing section, attributed to higher turbulence. As discharge increased, vertical mixing occurred, along with distinct lateral patterns displaying increased concentrations toward the riverbanks. Encountering plastic particles throughout the river profile underscores their properties of both suspended and floating matter, emphasizing the importance of hydro-morphology and multi-point cross-sectional measurement approaches. Microplastic loads were calculated to be <6.9 t a−1 in Aschach and <17.1 t a−1 in Hainburg, compared to total plastic loads of <14.3 t a−1 in Aschach and <41.6 t a−1 in Hainburg. Consequently, plastic loads were doubled to tripled within the Austrian section of the Danube River. The study contributes valuable insights into the complex nature of plastic transport in river systems, emphasizing comprehensive spatial, temporal and discharge-dependent assessments for characterizing and managing plastic pollution. It suggests that rivers can function as sources, pathways and sinks of plastic pollution, contingent upon hydro-morphological conditions. This underscores the need for longitudinal, basin-wide assessments to accurately understand plastic transport dynamics.
期刊介绍:
Frontiers in Earth Science is an open-access journal that aims to bring together and publish on a single platform the best research dedicated to our planet.
This platform hosts the rapidly growing and continuously expanding domains in Earth Science, involving the lithosphere (including the geosciences spectrum), the hydrosphere (including marine geosciences and hydrology, complementing the existing Frontiers journal on Marine Science) and the atmosphere (including meteorology and climatology). As such, Frontiers in Earth Science focuses on the countless processes operating within and among the major spheres constituting our planet. In turn, the understanding of these processes provides the theoretical background to better use the available resources and to face the major environmental challenges (including earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, floods, landslides, climate changes, extreme meteorological events): this is where interdependent processes meet, requiring a holistic view to better live on and with our planet.
The journal welcomes outstanding contributions in any domain of Earth Science.
The open-access model developed by Frontiers offers a fast, efficient, timely and dynamic alternative to traditional publication formats. The journal has 20 specialty sections at the first tier, each acting as an independent journal with a full editorial board. The traditional peer-review process is adapted to guarantee fairness and efficiency using a thorough paperless process, with real-time author-reviewer-editor interactions, collaborative reviewer mandates to maximize quality, and reviewer disclosure after article acceptance. While maintaining a rigorous peer-review, this system allows for a process whereby accepted articles are published online on average 90 days after submission.
General Commentary articles as well as Book Reviews in Frontiers in Earth Science are only accepted upon invitation.