Citizen science for monitoring plastic pollution from source to sea : a systematic review of methodologies, best practices, and challenges

Corbau, Corinne (author), Lazarou, Alexandre (author), Bajt, Oliver (author), Filipović Marijić, Vlatka (author), Simčič, Tatjana (author), Coltorti, Massimo (author), Pignoni, Elisa (author), Simeoni, Umberto (author)

Citizen science provides a valuable approach for tracking plastic pollution; however, its effectiveness is often limited by methodological inconsistencies, concerns about data quality, and a persistent gap between data collection and policy implementation. This systematic review addresses the key question: What constitutes a comprehensive set of best practices for addressing these issues and enhancing the scientific and societal impact of citizen science in monitoring plastic pollution from source to sea? Analyzing 84 studies, from beach cleanups to microplastic sampling, this review synthesizes best practices and identifies remaining gaps. It presents a structured framework designed to enhance data quality and volunteer participation. Key challenges include the ‘microplastic analytical bottleneck,’ the ‘digital divide,’ and notable geographical and demographic disparities that hinder the integration of policies. While citizen science is effective for large-scale data collection, its main challenge is translating data into actionable policies. The main contribution of this review is a series of practical recommendations aimed at improving methodological consistency, ensuring fair volunteer participation, and facilitating the transition from citizen data to evidence-based environmental management, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and impact of citizen science.

• Language: English
• Keywords: public engagement, plastic pollution data quality, environmental monitoring, policy integration
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FPP - Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 42 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 17, no. 18, art. 2668
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176385
• UDC: 574
• ISSN on article: 2073-4441
• DOI: 10.3390/w17182668
• COBISS.SI-ID: 249465859
• Publication date in RUL: 28.11.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Water
• Shortened title: Water
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4441
• COBISS.SI-ID: 36731653

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: vključevanje javnosti, kakovost podatkov o onesnaženju s plastiko, okoljski monitoring, integracija politik

Projects

• Funder: Interreg
• Funding programme: IPA-ADRION 2021-2027 Programme
• Project number: 00140
• Name: IPA-ADRION Project - 00140 AdriPLAST project