Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 117851 - 117851

Published: April 1, 2025

Plastic pollution is rapidly increasing, with land-based sources being the major contributors. Understanding factors driving waste movement from land to sea crucial for reducing leakage environment and its subsequent impact. In 2023 we conducted a stratified survey of mismanaged in across six Australian metropolitan regions, covering inland, riverine, coastal habitats, determine national baseline debris environment. We completed 1907 transects, found average density was 0.15 items m-2. Debris quantity patchy typically higher areas intensive use, such as urban agricultural zones, socio-economically disadvantaged regions. Polystyrene (24 % fragments) cigarette butts (20 whole items) were most common types. Most could be identified by material type but not specific use (e.g. unknown hard plastic fragments 28 all transects). Comparing our results 10 years prior, significant 39 decrease mean density, 16 increase transects where no found. Our study finds evidence support how historical policies, practices, outreach campaigns, clean-up efforts local custodianship have contributed habitats. This offers benchmark evaluate effectiveness new awareness campaigns.

Language: Английский