Citizen Science Reveals Plastic Pollution in Lithuanian Rivers

Understanding the sources and ecological impacts of plastic contamination in Lithuanian rivers is vital for effective mitigation strategies. However, this task is often logistically and financially challenging, especially concerning microplastics. Citizen science emerges as a promising solution, offering accessible sampling sites and enabling wide-scale monitoring efforts.

The Lithuanian Center for Physical Sciences and Technology has published an article utilizing the data from the Plastic Pirates' samplings in Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023! In the following we want to highlight the important facts of the article. You can find the article here.

"Exploring the abundance and characteristics of litter in Lithuanian riversides: a citizen science"

The Lithuania Plastic Pirates Crew were engaging schoolchildren in the examination of litter along riverbanks. This approach covered 24 sampling sites in Autumn 2022 and expanded to 32 sites in Spring 2023, encompassing both large and small rivers. The data collected revealed significant findings:

During Autumn 2022, a maximum of 220 items per location were recorded, while Spring 2023 saw an average of 111 items per location. The primary forms of litter identified were plastic (34–42%) and cigarette butts (17–22%), alongside glass, paper, and metal debris. These results suggest that recreational visitors constitute the primary source of riverine litter.">

Overall, the study underscores the pivotal role of citizen science in shedding light on the contamination of Lithuanian rivers. By harnessing community participation, these findings can inform the development of targeted conservation strategies aimed at mitigating plastic pollution and preserving the ecological integrity of river ecosystems.

You can read the full article written by Ieva Uogintė, Steigvilė Byčenkienė, Mehri Davtalab, Radvilė Markevičiūtė here.