Saeed S. Sadri, Richard C. Thompson, On the quantity and composition of
floating plastic debris entering and leaving the Tamar Estuary,
Southwest England, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 81, Issue 1, 15
April 2014, Pages 55-60, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.02.020.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14001167)
Abstract: The majority of plastic debris found in the marine environment
has land based sources and rivers are considered an important medium for
transfer of this debris. Here we report on the quantity and composition
of floating plastic debris collected from surface waters of the Tamar
Estuary. This represents the first study of riverine transport of
floating plastic debris into European waters during different tidal
regimes. Plastics were found in a variety of forms and sizes and
microplastics (<5 mm) comprised 82% of the debris. The most abundant
types of plastic were Polyethylene (40%), Polystyrene (25%) and
Polypropylene (19%). There was a significant difference in size
frequency distribution between the spring and neap tides with more
fragments of larger size observed during spring tides. While it is clear
that debris has accumulated on shorelines within the estuary, during our
study this river did not identify as a net source or sink.
Keywords: Marine debris; Riverine litter; Microplastic; Plastic; Tidal;
Tamar River