Hydroclimatic-driven pulse enrichment amplifies riverine microplastic export in developing countries [Research article summary]
Qin, Hehao ; Liu, Maodian ; Zhang, Yanxu ; Zhang, Qianru ; Xiao, Changhao ; Zhou, Chengzhen ; Cai, Xingrui ; Wang, Xuejun
Année de publication
2026
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, ~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.</div>
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