Distribution and dynamics of plastic debris in temperate coastal environments; Towards the integration of observations and modelling

温帯沿岸環境におけるプラスチックごみの分布と動態; 観測とモデリングの統合に向けて

Battulga, B.*; 池之上 翼  ; 中西 貴宏   ; 安藤 麻里子  ; 小嵐 淳   

Battulga, B.*; Ikenoue, Tsubasa; Nakanishi, Takahiro; Atarashi-Andoh, Mariko; Koarashi, Jun

Plastic pollution has become a growing environmental concern in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Despite continued monitoring efforts since the 1970s, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the occurrence, distribution, and behavior of plastics in the environment. These gaps limit the effectiveness of modelling approaches in accurately assessing the fate and transport of plastics in aquatic ecosystems. This study presents plastic monitoring data collected from coastal river environments in temperate regions, with a particular focus on Japan. The datasets were analyzed to understand spatial and seasonal patterns, size distributions, morphotypes, and dynamics of plastics and microplastics, and their interactions with biotic and abiotic components in aquatic environments. We further explored how these datasets can be effectively integrated into hydrological and biogeochemical modelling frameworks. Using this research, we propose future research directions to strengthen risk assessment by integrating both modelling and monitoring approaches.