Sources and sinks of plastic debris in estuaries: A conceptual model integrating biological, physical and chemical distribution mechanisms
Abstract
Micro-and macroplastic accumulation threatens estuaries worldwide because of the often dense human populations, diverse plastic inputs and high potential for plastic degradation and storage in these ecosystems. Nonetheless, our understanding of plastic sources and sinks remains limited. We designed conceptual models of the local and estuary-wide transport of plastics. We identify processes affecting the position of plastics in the water column; processes related to the mixing of fresh and salt water; and processes resulting from the influences of wind, topography, and organism-plastic interactions. The models identify gaps in the spatial context of plastic-organisms interactions, the chemical behaviour of plastics in estuaries, effects of wind on plastic suspension-deposition cycles, and the relative importance of processes affecting the position in the water column. When interpreted in the context of current understanding, sinks with high management potential can be identified. However, source-sink patterns vary among estuary types and with local scale processes.
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BibTeX
@article{vermeiren2026sources,
title = {{Sources and sinks of plastic debris in estuaries: A conceptual model integrating biological, physical and chemical distribution mechanisms}},
author = {Peter Vermeiren and Cynthia C Munoz and Kou Ikejima},
journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.002},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05738449v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sources and sinks of plastic debris in estuaries: A conceptual model integrating biological, physical and chemical distribution mechanisms
AU - Peter Vermeiren
AU - Cynthia C Munoz
AU - Kou Ikejima
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/04
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.002
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05738449v1
AB - Micro-and macroplastic accumulation threatens estuaries worldwide because of the often dense human populations, diverse plastic inputs and high potential for plastic degradation and storage in these ecosystems. Nonetheless, our understanding of plastic sources and sinks remains limited. We designed conceptual models of the local and estuary-wide transport of plastics. We identify processes affecting the position of plastics in the water column; processes related to the mixing of fresh and salt water; and processes resulting from the influences of wind, topography, and organism-plastic interactions. The models identify gaps in the spatial context of plastic-organisms interactions, the chemical behaviour of plastics in estuaries, effects of wind on plastic suspension-deposition cycles, and the relative importance of processes affecting the position in the water column. When interpreted in the context of current understanding, sinks with high management potential can be identified. However, source-sink patterns vary among estuary types and with local scale processes.
SN - 0025-326X
SN - 1879-3363
ER -