Summary
This study presents a catchment-scale approach to assessing macroplastic pollution in the Odaw river, Ghana, examining transport and density across spatially differentiated zones. Monitoring at ten locations in December 2021 revealed that urban riverine zones experienced the highest macroplastic transport, whilst urban tidal zones showed the highest riverbank and land macroplastic accumulation. The authors propose this methodology as a transferable framework for catchment-scale plastic pollution assessment in other global contexts.
UK applicability
Whilst the study focuses on Ghana's tropical riverine system, the catchment-scale assessment methodology could inform UK river pollution monitoring and plastic source-pathway-sink analysis in comparable urban-rural catchments. However, differences in plastic consumption patterns, waste management infrastructure, and hydrological regimes would require adaptation of the approach.
Key measures
Macroplastic transport rates and density on riverbanks and land across ten monitoring locations; categorisation and abundance of macroplastic types (water sachets, soft fragments, foam fragments)
Outcomes reported
The study quantified macroplastic transport and density across the Odaw river catchment in three zones (non-urban riverine, urban riverine, and urban tidal), identifying the most abundant plastic item types and their spatial distribution. Water sachets, soft fragments, and foam fragments were found to be the most prevalent macroplastic items.
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