Omar Khalid
Plastic enters the waterways through a variety of pathways, ultimately leading to the widespread contamination of oceans, rivers, and lakes. One significant route is the direct dumping of plastic waste into rivers, oceans, and beaches, as well as improper waste disposal near shorelines. This includes litter from streets and trash cans, plastic water bottles, and food packaging left behind by vacationers at coastal areas. Additionally, lightweight plastics disposed of in bins can escape into the environment when blown away by the wind. Microplastics, such as microbeads from personal care products and microfibers from clothing, are also contributing factors. These tiny plastic particles enter sewer systems and waterways, passing through water treatment processes and eventually reaching rivers and oceans. Agricultural and storm runoff, as well as sewage sludge used as fertiliser, further contribute to plastic pollution in waterways. The presence of microplastics in tap and bottled water has also been confirmed, leading to their consumption by aquatic life and, consequently, their bioaccumulation in the food chain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mismanaged plastic waste | Plastic enters rivers and oceans due to poor waste management practices. |
| Distance to water bodies | The risk of plastic entering water bodies is higher when cities are nearby and when they are close to the coast. |
| Population proximity | Rivers closer to populated areas are more likely to carry plastic to the sea. |
| Precipitation rates | High precipitation rates wash more plastic into rivers, increasing the flow rate of plastic to the ocean. |
| Terrain slope | The slope of the terrain affects the probability of plastic entering rivers and oceans. |
| Land use | Different types of land use impact the likelihood of plastic reaching water bodies. |
| River size | Smaller rivers can play a significant role in transporting plastic to the ocean. |
| Open dumps | Open dumps in some developing countries lack proper standards, allowing waste to leak into the environment. |
| Direct dumping | Direct dumping of trash into rivers, oceans, or along beaches contributes to plastic pollution. |
| Industrial processes | Lax standards in industrial processes can result in plastic escaping during production, transportation, or improper disposal. |
| Single-use plastic | Single-use plastic packaging for food and drink is a common source of ocean plastic pollution. |
| Microplastics | Microplastics from personal care products, laundry, and agricultural runoff enter waterways through wastewater and runoff. |
| Wind and rain | Wind and rain can carry plastic litter into drainage networks and rivers that flow into the sea. |
| Marine litter | Marine litter, including lost or illegally dumped fishing gear, accounts for about 20% of plastic in the sea. |
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What You'll Learn
Poor waste management practices
Secondly, even in countries with well-managed landfills, plastic waste transportation and disposal can be problematic. Plastic waste collected and transported to landfill sites can escape into the environment if not properly secured. Lightweight plastics are particularly susceptible to being blown away by the wind during transportation or even within the landfill sites, leading to their escape into rivers and oceans.
Thirdly, plastic waste that is not collected due to inadequate waste management systems or improper disposal contributes to plastic pollution in waterways. This uncollected plastic litter can be carried by wind and rain into drainage networks and rivers, eventually flowing into the sea. Major rivers around the world carry an estimated 1.15-2.41 million tons of plastic into the oceans annually, with smaller rivers also playing a significant role.
Additionally, wastewater treatment plants often lack the capacity to remove all microplastics and fibers from municipal wastewater. These microplastics, originating from personal care products, laundry, and industrial processes, pass through treatment processes and enter rivers and oceans. Agricultural runoff, particularly from areas where sewage sludge is used as fertilizer, further contributes to plastic pollution in waterways.
Lastly, lax standards in industrial processes contribute to plastic pollution. Plastic pellets, known as nurdles, used in the production of plastic products, are frequently spilled during transportation and can enter waterways and oceans. These spills occur during the transfer of nurdles between production facilities, vehicles, and final product manufacturing sites. The small size of nurdles makes them challenging to clean up and easily transportable by wind and rainwater into nearby water bodies.
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Plastic microfibres in clothing
Plastic enters the waterways through littering, wind, and poor waste management. Plastic waste that is not collected can be blown into rivers and streams, which eventually flow into the sea. Plastic waste that is collected and transported to landfill sites can also escape into the environment and end up in rivers or oceans.
Studies have shown that a single washing load of clothes can shed up to 17 million plastic microfibres. These microfibres are tiny, measuring less than 5mm in size, and are not effectively filtered out by water treatment facilities, allowing them to pass through treatment processes and enter rivers and oceans.
The shedding of plastic microfibres from clothing is not limited to the washing process. It has been found that clothing sheds microfibres constantly, even by just being worn. This means that the act of wearing and using textiles made from synthetic fabrics contributes to the release of microplastics into the environment.
The presence of plastic microfibres in waterways and ecosystems can have significant consequences for both the environment and human health. While the full extent of these impacts is still being studied, it is clear that plastic pollution, including that from microfibres, is a global crisis that requires attention and action.
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Plastic microbeads in cosmetics
Plastic enters the waterways through littering, wind, and sewage systems. Litter left on beaches or streets is often carried by wind and rain into drainage networks or rivers that flow into the sea. Plastic waste that is collected and transported to landfill sites can also escape and end up in rivers or oceans.
Plastic microbeads, which are a type of microplastic smaller than 5mm, are commonly found in personal care and cosmetic products such as toothpaste, wet wipes, shower gels, face scrubs, and sanitary items. These products are used daily and are flushed down toilets, entering our ecosystems. Municipal wastewater contains microplastics from microbeads in these products, which pass through water treatment processes and directly enter rivers, eventually reaching the oceans.
Microbeads are often used as emulsifying agents or cheap fillers in cosmetics and personal care products. They are added to provide a scrubbing or exfoliating effect, which is considered more pleasant than natural ingredients like nut shells or salt. In some cases, up to 90% of a cosmetic product may be comprised of microplastic ingredients.
The presence of microbeads in cosmetics has been recognised as a design error, and there have been campaigns to ban their use. As a result, 19 countries have taken steps to prohibit the manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 in the United States is one such example, addressing concerns about microbeads in the water supply. While this law does not address consumer safety, the potential risks of microplastics to human health and the environment are well-documented.
The irreversible nature of microplastic pollution lies in its persistence in the environment and resistance to biodegradation. Sea animals absorb or eat microplastics, passing them along the marine food chain. With nearly 400 tonnes of plastic waste generated globally each year and only about 9% recycled, the importance of addressing plastic pollution cannot be overstated.
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Plastic litter in rivers
There are several ways in which plastic litter ends up in rivers. Firstly, litter from streets and trash cans can be blown or washed into rivers and streams, especially in areas with poor waste management practices and open dumps. This includes plastic items such as food packaging and plastic bottles that are left behind by people. Secondly, plastic waste that is collected and transported to landfill sites can escape and be blown or washed away by wind and rain into nearby rivers. This is a particular issue in low-to-middle-income countries with poorer waste management infrastructure. Thirdly, microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles, can enter rivers through municipal wastewater and agricultural runoff. Personal care and cosmetic products, such as toothpaste, wet wipes, and sanitary items, contain microplastics that are flushed down toilets and enter rivers through wastewater treatment plants that are unable to filter them out. Microplastics can also enter rivers through runoff from agricultural fields where sewage sludge is used as fertiliser.
The presence of plastic litter in rivers has severe ecological consequences. Plastics can degrade over time into microplastics and nanoplastics, which are consumed by aquatic life and can bioaccumulate in the food chain. Wildlife can also become entangled in plastic litter, leading to their death. Additionally, microplastics can attract and concentrate heavy metals and organic pollutants in the water, further exacerbating their toxic effects on the environment.
To address the issue of plastic litter in rivers, it is essential to improve waste management practices, especially in areas close to rivers and other water bodies. This includes proper disposal of plastic waste, investing in waste management infrastructure, and implementing measures to reduce the use of single-use plastics and promote recycling. Additionally, stricter regulations and enforcement are needed to prevent the direct dumping of plastic waste into rivers and oceans, as well as to ensure that industrial processes minimise plastic pollution during production and transportation. By addressing these issues, we can help reduce the amount of plastic litter in rivers and mitigate its impact on the environment.
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Plastic pellets (nurdles) spills
Plastic pellets, also known as nurdles, are the raw materials that are melted and moulded to make plastic products. They are small, about the size of a lentil, and billions of them are used each year. Nurdles are made from fossil fuels and harmful chemicals such as phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA), flame retardants, organotins, heavy metals, and PFAS. These toxic chemicals can leach out into the environment and enter the food chain.
Nurdles spill into the environment from production factories, during transport on land and at sea, from plastic manufacturing sites, and even plastic recycling sites. Once in the environment, they are extremely difficult to clean up. They can easily be blown or washed into drains and carried out to sea, or spilled directly into the sea from transport ships. The number of big spills of nurdles at sea is increasing, with containers full of nurdles being lost from ships due to poor storage.
The MV X-Press Pearl released 1,680 tonnes of nurdles off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2021, the single largest nurdle pollution event in history. This disaster led to thousands of dead animals, including turtles, lionfish, and dolphins, washing up on the shores. It also devastated local communities, with fishers losing their income and people reducing their consumption of fish, the main protein source for 40% of Sri Lankans.
In addition to large spills, smaller spills and everyday losses of nurdles also contribute to plastic pollution. Nurdles can escape during the production, transportation, and disposal of plastic products. They are washed into waterways and sewers, eventually reaching the oceans. Once in the sea, ocean currents can carry nurdles around the world, impacting even remote islands in the Pacific and the Arctic.
The impact of nurdle pollution on wildlife can be devastating. Nurdles can be mistaken for food by wildlife, leading to starvation, ulceration, organ damage, and even death. Over 220 marine species have been shown to ingest plastic debris, and nurdles have been found in puffins, turtles, fish, urchins, dolphins, and more. As plastic fragments break down into smaller pieces, they can be eaten by smaller animals and enter the bloodstream, lodging in their tissues and passing up the food chain.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic enters oceans and waterways through a variety of sources, including litter blown or washed into rivers and streams, plastic waste that is dumped or left on beaches, and microplastics that are too small to be filtered out during the wastewater treatment process.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found in personal care and cosmetic products such as toothpaste, wet wipes, and sanitary items. These microplastics are flushed down toilets and enter waterways through wastewater. They are too small to be filtered out by wastewater treatment plants, so they pass through and enter rivers and oceans.
Plastic litter, such as single-use plastic packaging, can be blown or washed into rivers and streams, especially in areas with poor waste management practices. This plastic then flows into the ocean. Major rivers around the world carry an estimated 1.15-2.41 million tons of plastic into the sea every year.
In addition to plastic litter and microplastics, plastic fibres from clothing can be released during laundry and enter waterways through sewer systems. Agricultural runoff, storm runoff, and industrial processes can also carry plastics into waterways, especially when waste is not properly managed or disposed of.
