Plastic transport in a complex confluence of the Mekong River in Cambodia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15545973 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Charlotte J Haberstroh (0000-0002-2334-6683, University of South Florida), Mauricio E Arias (0000-0002-1592-2230, University of South Florida, corresponding author), Zhewen Yin (0000-0002-6855-6799, University of South Florida), Ty Sok (0000-0001-7185-698X, Institute of Technology of Cambodia), Michael Cai Wang (0000-0003-3300-852X, University of South Florida) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 095009-095009 |
| Publication date | 2021-08-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environmental Research Letters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326 |
| Publisher | IOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1088/1748-9326/ac2198 |
| OpenAlex | W3198376161 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 56 |
Field data on plastic pollution is extremely limited in Southeast Asian rivers. Here we present the first field measurements of plastic transport in the Mekong, based on a comprehensive monitoring campaign during the monsoon season in the confluence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac rivers around Cambodia’s capital (Phnom Penh). For improved accuracy in the estimation of plastic loads and distribution, we combined Neuston net multipoint cross-sectional water sampling with acoustic Doppler current profiler high resolution measurements. During the wet season, around 2.03 × 10 5 kg d −1 of plastic were released from Phnom Penh into the Mekong, equivalent to 89 g d −1 capita −1 , or 42% of all plastic waste generated in the city. Most plastic mass moved downstream at the surface. A smaller portion of plastics is mixed deep into the water column, potentially retained in the rivers, breaking down and resuspending over time. Overall, plastic waste from Phnom Penh and transported by the Mekong is a significant contribution to Southeast Asia’s plastic release into the ocean. This pollution represents a crucial risk to people in the region, as their livelihoods depend on fisheries from these water bodies
Acoustic Doppler current profiler · Agriculture · Current (fluid · Geography · Hydrology (agriculture · Livelihood · Mekong river · Microplastics · Monsoon · Plastic pollution · Plastic Waste · Structural basin · Environmental Science · Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · Recycling and Waste Management Techniques · Geology · Oceanography
Plastic and Human Health
Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean
Individual Comparisons by Ranking Methods
Export of Plastic Debris by Rivers into the Sea
River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans
Abundance of plastic debris across European and Asian rivers
Riverine plastic emission from Jakarta into the ocean
Maintaining perspective of ongoing environmental change in the Mekong floodplains
Plastic pollution
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,33 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2024 (2) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |