Beach debris quantity and composition around the world: A bibliometric and systematic review

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Ecosystem Health

Background:

• Marine ecosystems face increasing threats from anthropogenic pollution.
• Beach debris is a major component of this pollution, raising environmental concerns worldwide.
• Understanding the quantity and quality of beach debris is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize global data on the quantity and composition of beach debris.
• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research trends in beach debris studies.
• To update knowledge on marine pollution from beach litter.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Data extraction from the Scopus database for eligible papers published since 2010.
• Bibliometric analysis to identify research trends and patterns.

Main Results:

• Plastic items constitute the majority of beach debris, accounting for 61.25%.
• Other significant materials include food (5.88%), wood (5.78%), metals (5.2%), and glass (5%).
• Beaches were categorized by pollution levels: highly polluted (31.5 items/m²), moderately polluted (3.47 items/m²), and lightly polluted (0.37 items/m²).

Conclusions:

• Plastic pollution is the predominant issue in marine beach debris globally.
• Significant variations in pollution levels exist across different beaches worldwide.
• Further research and targeted interventions are needed to mitigate beach debris impacts on marine environments.