Summary
This paper investigates how extreme flood events alter macroplastic transport and retention in rivers by comparing plastic dynamics on Dutch Meuse riverbanks during the July 2021 flood with baseline conditions from 2018–2021. The findings show that flood conditions selectively mobilise smaller plastics (<2.5 cm) whilst depositing larger soft plastic fragments and wet tissues, with overall litter composition differing markedly from normal seasonal patterns. These observations advance understanding of how extreme hydrological events drive differential plastic transport and ecosystem deposition.
UK applicability
Given the UK's similar river systems, flooding patterns, and macroplastic pollution challenges, these findings are relevant for understanding plastic fate in UK waterways during extreme weather events, which are projected to increase with climate change. The methodological approach could inform UK monitoring protocols for plastic pollution during flood management.
Key measures
Macroplastic accumulation rates by size category (<2.5 cm, 2.5–50 cm), litter category composition, and plastic flushing/deposition dynamics on sixteen riverbank sites
Outcomes reported
The study compared macroplastic accumulation and flushing on riverbanks during the July 2021 extreme flood versus normal discharge conditions (2018–2021), measuring differential deposition patterns by plastic size category and composition changes.
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