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Rapid ‘fingerprinting’ of potential sources of plastics in river systems: An example from the River Wye, UK

Ogden, Wendy; Everard, Mark

Rapid ‘fingerprinting’ of potential sources of plastics in river systems: An example from the River Wye, UK Thumbnail


Authors

Wendy Ogden

Mark Everard Mark.Everard@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Ecosystem Services



Abstract

Literature review identified seven principal pathways of plastic debris entry into river systems: waste water treatment plants; combined sewer overflows; on-site wastewater treatment systems; road and rail transport systems; agriculture; industrial sources; and diffuse litter. A further category of ‘microplastics’ reflects their multiple potential sources, including microplastic breakdown within rivers. Regulatory and management bodies necessarily make operational decisions based on resource limitations and significant uncertainty due to sparse or missing data, requiring a substantial degree of inference. To support this need, we develop a rapid, desk-based approach based on risk criteria to ‘fingerprint’ likely pathways of plastic pollution based on catchment characteristics. Characteristics of the River Wye system in the UK are reviewed identifying a risk-based ‘fingerprint’ of potential pathways of plastic entry or accumulation of plastic debris, represented graphically as a colour-coded ‘traffic lights’ classification. This ‘fingerprinting’ approach is based on desk-based inference from published materials as a rapid and resource-efficient alternative to intensive data collection, supporting prioritisation of further investigation or response measures. We recommend replication of this ‘fingerprinting’ approach in other river catchments to support operational management of plastic pollution. Where feasible, it may also be down-scaled where sub-catchment or major river reach properties differ significantly.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 21, 2020
Online Publication Date Nov 17, 2020
Publication Date 2022-10
Deposit Date Sep 21, 2020
Publicly Available Date Nov 18, 2021
Journal International Journal of River Basin Management
Print ISSN 1571-5124
Electronic ISSN 1814-2060
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 3
Pages 349-362
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2020.1830783
Keywords Macroplastic; microplastic; River Wye; fingerprinting; management response options; risk-based
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6698629
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15715124.2020.1830783

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Rapid ‘fingerprinting’ of potential sources of plastics in river systems: An example from the River Wye, UK (856 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of River Basin Management on 17th November 2020, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2020.1830783






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