Global coastlines potentially contain significant amounts of plastic debris, with harmful implications for marine and coastal ecosystems, fisheries and tourism. However, the global amount, distribution and origin of plastic debris on beaches and in coastal waters is currently unknown. Here we analyse beaching and resuspension scenarios using a Lagrangian particle transport model. Throughout the first 5 years after entering the ocean, the model indicates that at least 77% of positively buoyant marine plastic debris (PBMPD) released from land-based sources is either beached or floating in coastal waters, assuming no further plastic removal from beaches or the ocean surface. The highest concentrations of beached PBMPD are found in Southeast Asia, caused by high plastic inputs from land and limited offshore transport, although the absolute concentrations are generally overestimates compared to field measurements. The modelled distribution on a global scale is only weakly influenced by local variations in resuspension rates due to coastal geomorphology. Furthermore, there are striking differences regarding the origin of the beached plastic debris. In some Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), such as the Indonesian Archipelago, plastic originates almost entirely from within the EEZ while in other EEZs, particularly remote islands, almost all beached plastic debris arrives from remote sources. Our results highlight coastlines and coastal waters as important reservoirs of marine plastic debris and limited transport of PBMPD between the coastal zone and the open ocean.

Global simulations of marine plastic transport show plastic trapping in coastal zones

The impact of tourism on marine litter pollution on Santa Marta beaches, Colombian Caribbean

A systematic protocol of microplastics analysis from their identification to quantification in water environment: A comprehensive review.

Tourism activities are considered, among others, the backbone of the local economies. However, tourism activities lead to adverse environmental impacts, especially in coastal zones. Coastal areas are considered and recognized as of strategic importance due to the fact that several activities take place, from leisure to business. At the same time, coastal areas are under pressure from tourist activities, and the waste generated is a very serious issue. Therefore, there are limited studies related to the environmental dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic in the coastal environment. This paper provides answers to the hypothesis that the pandemic lockdown scenario would improve environmental performance due to reduced usage and, therefore, waste, taking into account specific key performance indicators (KPIs) as these KPIs are used to evaluate the performance of an area. The results showed that the study area improved, as did the selected KPIs, i.e., clean coast index (CCI), waste accumulation rate (WAR), and waste accumulation index (WAI). Additionally, according to the final results, the concentration of micro-, meso- and macroplastics on the beach reduced, and the main issues remained the solutions on cigarette butts, straws, and other plastic containers. Furthermore, the final results are considered very useful to local authorities, stakeholders, consultants, policymakers, and any other competent authorities, to reschedule their waste management strategies, to improve waste infrastructures and their level of services (LOS), as well as, to suggest frequent awareness-raising activities to their visitors on how to protect the coastal environment, taking into account a pandemic scenario, as well as, the policy alternative impacts on EU coastal zones 2000–2050.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2485/pdf

Measuring the Level of Environmental Performance on Coastal Environment before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from Cyprus

Marine litter on a highly urbanized beach at Southeast Brazil: A contribution to the development of litter monitoring programs

The analysis of the accumulation of solid waste debris in the summer season along the Shilaoren Beach Qingdao, China

Detection of litter along beaches in many countries indicates an anthropoginic source of marine pollution. The abundance and composition of litter were measured for the first time along the No.1 Bathing Beach, Qingdao, China. Surveys were conducted during May to July, 2018 in order to estimate the occurrence and abundance of nine litter types. In total, 4476 litter items were collected with a corresponding weight of 330.2 kg. The most prominent litter was plastic followed by paper, wood, and (cloth and ropes) with corresponding percentages of 49.91, 10.30 and 9.76% of the total litter items. Plastics were the most abundant litter type (38.81%) in term of weight, followed by paper (12.11%) and food items (9.07%). The main sources of litter included human recreational activities, e.g. tourism, fisheries and cafes. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the number/weight of different items during the three months of study. The results of the present study will help to administer effective beach litter management programs.

Abundance, type, and origin of litter on No. 1 Bathing Beach of Qingdao, China

Microplastic pollution is considered to be a major coastal environmental issue worldwide, and studies have confirmed the ubiquitous nature of microplastics on many beaches. To best of our knowledge...

Stereomicroscopic and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic Characterization of the Abundance, Distribution and Composition of Microplastics in the Beaches of Qingdao, China

Human health and marine life are being compromised consequent to the accumulation of municipal solid waste on many beaches and the scientific community is seriously concerned about this situation. The present study is the pioneer to determine the abundance and the composition of beach litter along the Aoshan Beach in Qingdao, China. The quantitative survey of the Aoshan Beach was conducted for approximately 3 months (May to July 2019) to evaluate the number of different types of litter. The average litter composition and its weight for 3 months were estimated to be 4441 ± 364.16 items/km with the corresponding weight was 260.52 ± 28.53 kg/km, respectively. The findings demonstrated that plastic litter was the most abundant by count (32.21% of the total account) followed by ropes and cotton (24.92%) and wood (14.20%). The weight of ropes and cotton was the maximum (22.52% of the total account), followed by plastics (20.47%), wood, and glass 14.59 and 14.94%. Moreover, floating litter from the Yellow sea deposited along the coast by high and low tidal waves. It was concluded that mitigation measures must be adopted to decrease littering its source, waste management, recycling, developing efficient tolls, and pursuing a long-term public awareness.

Yonghong Wang

Papers

The analysis of the accumulation of solid waste debris in the summer season along the Shilaoren Beach Qingdao, China

Abundance, type, and origin of litter on No. 1 Bathing Beach of Qingdao, China

Stereomicroscopic and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic Characterization of the Abundance, Distribution and Composition of Microplastics in the Beaches of Qingdao, China

The distribution and composition of litter on the Aoshan Beach Qingdao, China