Rivers aren’t just carrying water to the seas—they’re moving plastic there by the ton. A new study in Science estimates that in 2022, rivers dumped about 260,000 metric tons of microplastics into the ocean, far more than previously thought, reports the Washington Post. About 96% came from developing countries, with more than half from Southeast and East Asia. The Yangtze alone is estimated to send 43,000 tons a year.
The pollution doesn’t flow evenly. Researchers say microplastics build up in cities, fields, roads, and floodplains, then surge seaward in short bursts driven mostly by heavy rains—a pattern climate change is intensifying. Scientists stress that better data, stronger waste systems, and policies that reduce plastic dependence are crucial, with wastewater management a key starting point. “Without stronger upstream controls on plastic production and waste management, climate-driven increases in extreme rainfall may intensify these pulses, worsening marine microplastic pollution,” warns the research team from Peking University, per Phys.org.