Plastics in the Indian Ocean – sources, transport, distribution, and impacts

Abstract. Plastic debris is the most common and exponentially increasing human pollutant in world's ocean. The distribution impact of plastic Pacific Atlantic oceans have been subject many publications but not so Indian Ocean (IO). Some IO rim countries highest population densities globally mismanagement waste concern these states. plastic-polluted rivers empty into IO, with all this suggesting that receives a tremendous amount each year. However, concentration, distribution, impacts plastics are poorly understood as region under-sampled compared to other oceans. In review, we discuss sources sinks, which specific IO. We also unique atmospheric, oceanographic, topographic features control such reversing wind directions due monsoon, fronts, upwelling regions. identify hotspots possible accumulation differ between two hemispheres. southern accumulate garbage patch subtropical gyre. well defined, may leak or Ocean. There no gyre associated northern presence landmasses. Instead, majority buoyant likely end up on coastlines. Finally, vast knowledge gaps concerning point pressing topics for future investigation.