Changes in distribution and types of plastic debris in urban river shores, Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia

Munkhbat, D.*; Kawahigashi, Masayuki*; Battulga, B. ; Bolormaa, O.*; Sainjargal, B.*

Plastic waste can be transferred to the river by wind, flood, and unexpected artificial disposal, which gives a negative impact on the environment and human health. Rivers collect plastic wastes from their watersheds according to geographical factors. Therefore, characterization of plastic distribution and composition with respect to land-uses can be understandable for fate of plastic wastes. Plastic debris surveyed from the main (Tuul river) and tributary river shores in Ulaanbaatar (UB) city, Mongolia from the upperstream to downstream to understand behavior and control of plastic waste along the major river in the urbanized city. The composition of collected plastics along the Tuul river in the UB city was composed of 63% micro, 15% of meso, 18% of macro, and 5% of mega-sized plastics on the number basis. Foam and films were dominant in the material-based fractions. The size distribution may vary according to catchment area and types of land-uses.