Vertical and Horizontal Plastic Litter Distribution in a Bend of a Tidal River

Plastic litter transported in rivers may enter the marine environment. Due to durability of plastic, residence times aquatic environment are decades millennia. items come a wide variety. The density item and flow velocity largely determine vertical distribution plastic litter, although shape wind can also play role river. Estimates transport river usually based on observations visible near-surface layer alone. Only very limited number studies have observed or estuaries. We carried out 28 sampling surveys bend located lower part Rhine-Meuse delta that is under influence tides. To observe distribution, we sampled with three nets simultaneously up 5 m water depth, at both sides bend. In total, almost 90% collected debris was organic matter. represented large majority non-organic litter: about 80% by mass, having an average concentration 0.5 mg/m 3 , more than number. mass middle net generally upper nets. present two column surface net. A higher found downwind side channel upwind fairway. It concentrations were same order magnitude during ebb flood tide. size contributed most (around 65%) between 25 500 mm, which mostly soft plastics (i.e. foils). net, relatively small hard found. these sometimes entangled flux follow matter like plants.