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Causes of coastal waters pollution with nutrients, chemicals and plastics worldwide

Authors :
Micella, Ilaria
Kroeze, Carolien
Bak, Mirjam P.
Strokal, Maryna
Micella, Ilaria
Kroeze, Carolien
Bak, Mirjam P.
Strokal, Maryna
Source :
ISSN: 0025-326X
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Worldwide, coastal waters contain pollutants such as nutrients, plastics, and chemicals. Rivers export those pollutants, but their sources are not well studied. Our study aims to quantify river exports of nutrients, chemicals, and plastics to coastal waters by source and sub-basin worldwide. We developed a new MARINA-Multi model for 10,226 sub-basins. The global modelled river export to seas is approximately 40,000 kton of nitrogen, 1,800 kton of phosphorous, 45 kton of microplastics, 490 kton of macroplastics, 400 ton of triclosan and 220 ton of diclofenac. Around three-quarters of these pollutants are transported to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Diffuse sources contribute by 95–100 % to nitrogen (agriculture) and macroplastics (mismanaged waste) in seas. Point sources (sewage) contribute by 40–95 % to phosphorus and microplastics in seas. Almost 45 % of global sub-basin areas are multi-pollutant hotspots hosting 89 % of the global population. Our findings could support strategies for reducing multiple pollutants in seas.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Journal :
ISSN: 0025-326X
Notes :
application/pdf, Marine Pollution Bulletin 198 (2024), ISSN: 0025-326X, ISSN: 0025-326X, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1430715777
Document Type :
Electronic Resource