2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
5/20/2019 | 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM | POOLS AND FLUXES OF PLASTIC LITTER AT THE WATERSHED SCALE: AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH | 251 AB
POOLS AND FLUXES OF PLASTIC LITTER AT THE WATERSHED SCALE: AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH
Research on plastic litter in global ecosystems is rapidly developing. Rivers are considered a primary source of plastic to oceans, but retention of litter within freshwater ecosystems is not well studied. Emerging research shows plastic litter in freshwaters is determined by the infrastructure, policies, and cultural norms which govern the management of solid waste, wastewater, and water extraction, as well as landscape features designed to retain or transport water. We composed a conceptual model which illustrates the sources and fluxes for plastic litter at the watershed scale that will end with either containment (i.e., landfill), non-containment (i.e., persist as environmental pollution), long term burial, mineralization, recycling back into consumer goods, or export to oceans. We also include fluxes to the atmosphere and freshwater extraction which have not previously been incorporated into conceptual models. We use our framework to illustrate which pathways are best studied and reveal understudied components of the plastic 'life cycle' in freshwaters. This model also offers a framework to prioritize efficient prevention and management strategies for plastic pollution across diverse waste governance scenarios.
- Non-point Source
- Management
- Urban
Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Timothy Hoellein
(), Loyola University Chicago, thoellein@luc.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Chelsea Rochman
(), University of Toronto, chelsearochman@gmail.com;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -