Running away to sea: a theoretical model of anthropogenic factors contribution to microplastics transportation from rivers to the ocean
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Data
2022-06-30
Autores
Fernandez, Ana Cláudia Fegies
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Editor
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
O lixo antropogênico pode ser perigoso tanto para o meio ambiente como para as espécies que o habitam, incluindo os humanos. Um componente importante do lixo são partículas de plástico que podem ser classificadas em macroplásticos (>5 mm) ou microplásticos (<5 mm). O objetivo deste estudo é compreender, através de uma revisão de literatura, quais são os fatores antropogênicos mais importantes que contribuem para o transporte de plástico dos rios para o oceano e propor um modelo teórico para classificar e entender melhor esses fatores. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura
utilizando a plataforma Web of Science®, a qual retornou 213 entradas. Após descartar entradas que não estavam estritamente relacionadas à nossa revisão, o conjunto de dados resultante incluiu 59 artigos. O modelo teórico é composto dos principais fatores que causam a entrada de microplásticos nos cursos d'água, que foram divididos em fontes pontuais e não pontuais para geração e transporte de plástico. Na geração de plásticos, as principais fontes pontuais consideradas foram a influência da densidade populacional atendida e os volumes permitidos de descarga de poluentes. A geração por fontes não pontuais consideradas foram densidade populacional, produção de resíduos per capita, atividade da indústria, atividade veicular e infraestrutura comunitária. Para o transporte de plástico, as principais fontes pontuais foram os locais das estações de tratamento de águas residuais e das indústrias; enquanto as fontes não pontuais foram principalmente o escoamento superficial (chuvas, cobertura do solo, taludes e solos) e grandes barragens. Os fatores antropogênicos que mais receberam atenção pelos artigos revisados foram a densidade populacional, estações de tratamento de esgoto e
a influência sazonal das chuvas na contaminação por microplásticos nos rios. A necessidade de desenvolver leis e normas eficientes para regular o despejo de plásticos em corpos d'água é evidente, para reduzir efetivamente seu acúmulo em ambientes aquáticos. O modelo teórico proposto pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento de mapas de risco, contribuindo para o processo de tomada de decisão para implementação de melhores políticas de gestão de resíduos.
Anthropogenic litter can be hazardous to the environment and the species that inhabit it, including humans. An important component of litter is made of plastic particles, which can be classified as macroplastics (>5 mm) or microplastics (<5 mm). This study aims to understand, by reviewing the existing literature, which are the most important anthropogenic factors that contribute to plastic transportation from rivers to the ocean and propose a theoretical model to classify and better understand these factors. A literature review using the Web of Science® platform returned 213 entries. After discarding entries that were not strictly related to our review, the resulting dataset included 59 articles. The theoretical model contained the main factors that cause the input of microplastics into the waterways, which were divided into point and nonpoint sources for plastic generation and transport. In plastic generation, the main point sources considered were the influence of the population density served and the pollutant discharge permit volumes. The nonpoint sources considered were population density, per capita waste production, industry activity, vehicle activity and community infrastructure. For plastic transportation, the main point sources were wastewater treatment plants and industrial locations, while the nonpoint sources were surface runoff (rainfall, land cover, slope and soli) and major dams. The anthropogenic factors that received the most attention from reviewed articles were associated with the relationship between population density, sewage treatment plants and the seasonal influence of rainfall on contamination by microplastics in rivers. The need to develop efficient laws and rules to regulate the dumping of plastics in water bodies is evident to effectively reduce their accumulation in aquatic environments. The theoretical model designed can assist in the development of risk maps, contributing to the decision-making process by stakeholders to implement better waste management policies.
Anthropogenic litter can be hazardous to the environment and the species that inhabit it, including humans. An important component of litter is made of plastic particles, which can be classified as macroplastics (>5 mm) or microplastics (<5 mm). This study aims to understand, by reviewing the existing literature, which are the most important anthropogenic factors that contribute to plastic transportation from rivers to the ocean and propose a theoretical model to classify and better understand these factors. A literature review using the Web of Science® platform returned 213 entries. After discarding entries that were not strictly related to our review, the resulting dataset included 59 articles. The theoretical model contained the main factors that cause the input of microplastics into the waterways, which were divided into point and nonpoint sources for plastic generation and transport. In plastic generation, the main point sources considered were the influence of the population density served and the pollutant discharge permit volumes. The nonpoint sources considered were population density, per capita waste production, industry activity, vehicle activity and community infrastructure. For plastic transportation, the main point sources were wastewater treatment plants and industrial locations, while the nonpoint sources were surface runoff (rainfall, land cover, slope and soli) and major dams. The anthropogenic factors that received the most attention from reviewed articles were associated with the relationship between population density, sewage treatment plants and the seasonal influence of rainfall on contamination by microplastics in rivers. The need to develop efficient laws and rules to regulate the dumping of plastics in water bodies is evident to effectively reduce their accumulation in aquatic environments. The theoretical model designed can assist in the development of risk maps, contributing to the decision-making process by stakeholders to implement better waste management policies.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Microplástico, Rios, Fatores antropogênicos, Manejo de resíduos, Microplastics, Rivers, Anthropogenic factors, Waste management