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Updated: Sep 1, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
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Comment on "The missing ocean plastic sink: Gone with the rivers".

Lei Mai1, Xiang-Fei Sun1, Eddy Y Zeng1

  • 1Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.

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|August 18, 2022
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Summary

The estimated ocean surface microplastic residence time is incorrect due to flawed calculations. A questionable river flux estimate invalidates the ~2.4-year residence time conclusion.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Oceanography
  • Plastic Pollution Studies

Background:

  • Floating microplastic accumulation in oceans is a significant environmental concern.
  • Previous studies have attempted to quantify the residence time of microplastics on the ocean surface.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the methodology used by Weiss et al. to determine oceanic microplastic residence time.
  • To demonstrate the flaws in the calculation of microplastic residence time based on riverine flux estimates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the calculation method employed by Weiss et al.
  • Critique of the river microplastic flux data used in the aforementioned study.
  • Comparison of published oceanic plastic debris stock with estimated riverine flux.

Main Results:

  • The residence time calculation by Weiss et al. is fundamentally flawed.
  • The oceanic microplastic residence time is not accurately represented by the ~2.4-year figure.
  • The river microplastic flux estimation used is questionable and unreliable.

Conclusions:

  • The conclusion by Weiss et al. regarding microplastic residence time is unsubstantiated.
  • Accurate estimation of riverine microplastic flux is crucial for determining oceanic residence times.
  • Further research with robust flux data is needed to accurately assess microplastic persistence in marine environments.