Hydroclimatic-driven pulse enrichment amplifies riverine microplastic export in developing countries

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Qin, Hehao; Liu, Maodian; Zhang, Yanxu; Zhang, Qianru; Xiao, Changhao; Zhou, Chengzhen; Cai, Xingrui; Qiu, Xinran; Wang, Xuejun
• 署名单位: Peking University; Yale University; Peking University; Tulane University; Duke University; University of London; University College London; Peking University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.aeb4487
• 发表日期: 2026-09-10
• 页码: eaeb4487
• 关键词: SEASONAL-VARIATION; plastic debris; water; accumulation; transport; SEA; biogeochemistry; sensitivity; particles; radiation

摘要

Rivers are key conduits in the global microplastic cycle, but how much they export to ` ocean and what controls this export remain unresolved. Here, we present a global daily dataset of riverine microplastic concentrations and exports and find that rivers delivered far more microplastics to the ocean than most previous estimates suggest. Ninety-six percent of this export originated in the Global South, with Southeast and East Asia contributing >50% of the total flux. Furthermore, similar to 70% of global freshwater discharge exhibits pulse enrichment, whereby rainfall-driven high flows trigger spikes in microplastic concentrations and fluxes; 80% of these cases occur in developing countries. Without stronger upstream controls on plastic production and waste management, climate-driven increases in extreme rainfall may intensify these pulses, worsening marine microplastic pollution.