Citizen science for assessing riverside macrolitter pollution : Communication and quality mechanisms for scientifically valid data
Since the 1950s, global plastic production has increased from 1.5 million tons to 413.8 million tons in 2023, and plastic pollution now affects all ecosystems. Rivers are major pathways transporting plastic litter to the oceans, with recent studies highlighting the significant role of smaller rivers. Comprehensive monitoring of litter quantities, composition, and sources is therefore essential. Citizen science offers an effective approach for generating large-scale datasets while raising public awareness. This thesis analyses data from the Plastic Pirates program, one of the largest citizen science initiatives on riverine plastic pollution. Since 2016, more than 23,000 schoolchildren have collected standardized litter data along rivers across Germany. The thesis is based on data from 2016–2022 and comprises three peer-reviewed publications. The first publication emphasizes the importance of continuous communication with participants to ensure reliable data collection. The second demonstrates that clear research questions, standardized methods, educational support, data-quality measures, and transparent exclusion criteria are crucial for scientific acceptance. Building on these insights, the third publication assesses macrolitter along riversides of five major German river systems over seven years. Litter was found at 92% of sites, averaging 0.28 items per m², with plastics and cigarette butts dominating. River visitors were identified as the main source. Overall, the findings show that citizen science involving schoolchildren can provide scientifically robust data on riverine litter pollution when clear communication strategies and quality standards are applied, representing a valuable supplementary monitoring approach at multiple scales.
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