River-to-sea plastic pollution: A pilot toolbox for the Caspian Sea

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Ecology

Background:

• Plastic pollution is a growing global concern, particularly in river deltas.
• The Kura River delta, entering the Caspian Sea, lacks comprehensive pollution assessments.
• Semi-enclosed water bodies are vulnerable to accumulating debris.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first integrated assessment of plastic pollution at the Kura River delta.
• To develop and apply a replicable framework for assessing plastic pollution in semi-enclosed systems.
• To identify pollution hotspots, sources, and transboundary influences.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modular toolbox combining hydrodynamic modeling, UAV mapping, and automated image analysis.
• Employed standardized field monitoring with community participants for ground-truthing and source identification.
• Integrated technical diagnostics with community engagement for a holistic approach.

Main Results:

• Identified key debris accumulation hotspots within the Kura River delta.
• Recorded over 600 plastic items along a 1.2km shoreline, dominated by beverage containers.
• Confirmed transboundary plastic inputs originating from five different countries.

Conclusions:

• The integrated framework provides a scalable and site-adapted approach to plastic pollution assessment.
• Community engagement is crucial for effective ground-truthing and source identification.
• Findings underscore the need for collaborative, transboundary solutions to riverine plastic pollution.