Monitoring and Removing Plastic Pollution in Freshwater Envi

[patricjfrenn]

A pioneering study from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities reveals how remote sensing technology can assist in monitoring and removing plastic debris from freshwater environments such as the Mississippi River.

Published in Nature, the research provides valuable insights into the behavior of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems, an issue that has received less attention compared to plastic pollution in oceans. While oceanic plastic pollution is a growing environmental concern, with the United Nations Environment Programme identifying it as a leading pollution challenge, plastic waste in rivers and lakes has often been overlooked. However, much of the ocean's plastic debris originates from rivers, making it crucial to address freshwater pollution.

Traditional methods of removing plastic waste rely on labor-intensive sampling, which is time-consuming and costly. To overcome these challenges, the researchers employed remote sensing technology, which offers a more cost-effective solution that can cover larger areas. The technology uses spectral reflectance properties, or specific wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, to identify different types of plastic materials. This method helps distinguish plastic debris from naturally occurring elements in freshwater, such as seaweed, sediments, and driftwood.

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"We could use this technology to identify different types of plastics in the water simultaneously," said Mohammadali Olyaei, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering and lead author of the study. "This is critical information for employing other technologies, such as drones, to capture and remove plastic debris."

The study was conducted at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, which allowed the researchers to test their theory using the actual conditions of the Mississippi River. They combined a remote sensing platform (spectroradiometer) and a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera to monitor and classify various types of debris based on their spectral signatures, providing a more efficient way to target and remove plastic pollution.

"As soon as plastics begin to spread, their control becomes increasingly difficult. By developing technology to capture plastic debris in places like Minnesota, we can protect downstream states and even the entire ocean from plastic pollution," said Ardeshir Ebtehaj, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering and corresponding author of the study.

The researchers aim to expand their work on a larger scale to further understand the movement of plastic debris across river systems and enhance methods for its removal. The study was supported by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENTRF), which funds conservation efforts in the state.