Riverine Plastic Pollution in Asia: Results from a Bibliometric Assessment
Walter Leal Filho,
Cagdas Dedeoglu,
Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis,
Amanda Lange Salvia,
Jelena Barbir,
Viktoria Voronova,
Ismaila Rimi Abubakar,
Arvo Iital,
Karin Pachel,
Fredrik Huthoff,
Ayyoob Sharifi,
Peter J. Yang,
Maris Klavins,
Victoria Omeche Emanche
Affiliations
Walter Leal Filho
European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Cagdas Dedeoglu
General Studies, Yorkville University, 2000 Steeles Avenue West Concord, New Westminster, ON L4K 4N1, Canada
Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
Amanda Lange Salvia
Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Passo Fundo, BR 285, São José 99052-900, Brazil
Jelena Barbir
Faculty of Life Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Viktoria Voronova
Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, School of Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Ismaila Rimi Abubakar
College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
Arvo Iital
Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, School of Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Karin Pachel
Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, School of Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Fredrik Huthoff
Department of Marine and Fluvial Systems, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, De Horst 2, 7522 LW Enschede, The Netherlands
Ayyoob Sharifi
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima 739-8530, Japan
Peter J. Yang
Great Lake Energy Institute, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Maris Klavins
Department of Environmental Science, University of Latvia, Raina Blvd 19, LV-1586 Riga, Latvia
Victoria Omeche Emanche
Faculty of Life Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Rivers are important ecosystems, vital to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of humans and other species. Despite their environmental, social, and economic importance, current use of rivers is unsustainable, due to a combination of solid waste and high levels of pollutants. Plastic materials are among the most predominant of such pollutants. Based on the need for additional research in this area, this study examines pressures put to rivers and explores trends related to riverine plastic pollution, with a focus on Asia. Apart from the bibliometric analysis, and relying on the collected information, examples describing the drivers of riverine plastic pollution in a sample of Asian countries are described, outlining the specific problem and its scope. Among some of the results obtained from it, mention can be made to the fact that much of the literature focuses on plastic pollution as a whole and less on one of its most significant ramifications, namely microplastics. Additionally, there is a need related to data availability on riverine plastic data and improving the understanding of transport mechanisms in relation to riverine plastic emission into the ocean. The results from this study illustrate the significance of the problems posed by plastic waste to Asian rivers and point out the fact that there are still significant gaps in respect of regulations and standards, which prevent improvements that are highlighted in this study. Based on the results of this bibliometric assessment, specific measures via which levels of riverine plastic pollution may be reduced are presented, bringing relevant new insights on this topic beyond the existing reviews.
