Evolution & Ecology Research Centre UNSW-Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Centre of Marine Science and Innovation, UNSW-Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Centre of Marine Science and Innovation, UNSW-Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Global Ocean Accounts Partnership, UNSW-Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Sci Total Environ. 2023 May 1;871:161908. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161908. Epub 2023 Feb 1.
Stormwater drains act as a pathway for anthropogenic debris from land to sea, particularly in urbanised estuaries where impervious surfaces expedite the process. Debris type and abundance in stormwater drains may vary due to land use and human activity, and knowledge of this variation is necessary to manage the growing threat of debris. Surveys of stormwater debris can inform targeted reduction and remediation efforts by intercepting and identifying pollutants near their source. We surveyed replicate stormwater gross pollutant traps across four land use zones (city centre, shopping centre, transportation hub, industrial precinct) before and during COVID-19 measures to assess the effects of changing human activities. Gross pollutant traps were installed in 120 drains in Greater Melbourne, Australia, and citizen scientists trained by Tangaroa Blue Foundation weighed and classified debris at 6-week intervals between October 2019 and October 2020. Four survey cycles were conducted before lockdowns were implemented, then another four during lockdowns. COVID-19 lockdowns and patterns of debris type and abundance across land use revealed how changes in human activity might impact the flow of debris. Cigarette butts were the most abundant macro debris (>5 mm) item in every survey cycle, regardless of lockdowns. Industrial land use zones had the lowest macro debris counts but contained over 90 % of the micro debris (1-5 mm). The amount of total macro debris decreased during lockdowns, however the most abundant and problematic debris items such as cigarettes and single-use plastics did not decrease as much as might be expected from the concomitant reductions in human activity. Occupational health and safety items, such as masks and gloves, increased (144 %) during COVID-19 lockdowns. Micro debris counts did not change in industrial zones during lockdowns, suggesting that workplace interventions may be necessary to reduce this debris leakage. Tracing the pathway of debris from source to sea can inform reduction and long-term management strategies.
雨水渠是陆地向海洋输送人为杂物的通道，在城市化河口尤其如此，因为不透水表面会加速这一过程。雨水渠中的杂物类型和数量可能因土地利用和人类活动而有所不同，了解这种变化对于应对日益严重的杂物威胁是必要的。对雨水渠杂物的调查可以通过在污染源附近拦截和识别污染物，为有针对性的减少和补救工作提供信息。在 COVID-19 措施实施前后，我们对四个土地利用区（市中心、购物中心、交通枢纽、工业区）的雨水渠进行了重复的总污染物截留器调查，以评估人类活动变化的影响。在澳大利亚大墨尔本地区的 120 个雨水渠中安装了总污染物截留器，并由 Tangaroa Blue 基金会培训的公民科学家每 6 周对 2019 年 10 月至 2020 年 10 月期间的截获物进行称重和分类。在实施封锁之前进行了四轮调查，然后在封锁期间又进行了四轮。COVID-19 封锁和不同土地利用类型的杂物类型和数量的变化揭示了人类活动变化如何影响杂物的流动。在每一轮调查中，烟头都是最常见的（>5 毫米）大型杂物，无论是否封锁。工业用地区的大型杂物数量最少，但包含超过 90%的微塑料（1-5 毫米）。封锁期间，总大型杂物数量减少，但像香烟和一次性塑料这样最常见和最成问题的杂物并没有像预期的那样随着人类活动的减少而减少那么多。在 COVID-19 封锁期间，职业健康和安全物品（如口罩和手套）的数量增加了（144%）。封锁期间，工业区的微塑料数量没有变化，这表明可能需要采取工作场所干预措施来减少这种杂物泄漏。追踪从源头到海洋的杂物路径可以为减少和长期管理策略提供信息。
