The First Record of the Distribution and Abundance of Plastic Wastes Along the River Nile Shores, Upper Egypt

Using the visual observation method, this study provides an overview of the distribution and abundance of plastic waste on the shores of the main course of the River Nile at twelve different sites across six successive governorates in Upper Egypt. Among these sites, Assiut, Nagaa Hammadi, and Suhag, three urban sites, had the greatest distribution and abundance of plastic waste. El-Wasta, a rural site, came in second. Luxor, Aswan, and Edfu, three tourist sites, had the least distribution and abundance of plastic waste. Only Assiut and Suhag had piles of plastic waste. The most abundant type of plastic waste was plastic bags, followed by a variety of other plastics, including boat mooring ropes, plastic foams, lids, food wrappers, packaging material, bottle caps, cutlery, and plastic pipes. Next came bottles, tires, the obvious appearance of personal hygiene products, and very little fishing gear. Megaplastics, mesoplastics, and microplastics all had lower percentages than macroplastics, which had the highest percentage. The abundance of plastic waste was lower in the southern governorates (Aswan and Luxor) than in the northern governorates (Assiut, Qena, Suhag, and El-Minya). Our current research would contribute to the global trend of examining plastic in rivers, and the findings would aid in the establishment of a mechanism to lessen and eventually eliminate plastic waste, particularly along the Nile's shores, as well as a law to better regulate it.