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Distribution of microplastics in salt marsh habitats in the coasts of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, India
Summary
Researchers found that microplastics, tiny plastic bits from broken-down trash, build up in coastal salt marsh soils in India, especially where thick plants trap them near shore and where sandy soil lets them sink deeper. This matters because these marshes act as long-term storage sites for plastic pollution, meaning it doesn't just wash away but accumulates in the ecosystem, where it can enter the food chain that eventually reaches our plates through seafood and coastal agriculture.
This study offers crucial insights into the distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the salt marsh habitats of Tuticorin Coast (Gulf of Mannar) and Karankadu Estuary (Palk Bay). The mean abundance of MPs in surface sediment ranges from 4.6 ± 1.5 to 49.6 ± 6.5 items/kg on the Tuticorin coast and from 5 ± 1 to 16.3 ± 2.3 items/kg in the Karankadu Estuary. The dense landward edge of Sesuvium portulacastrum exhibits a remarkable ability to retain MPs, as its sprawling mats effectively trap larger amounts, thereby reducing their migration from inland to the shore. The trapping efficiency is closely linked to the density of vegetative zone, growth characteristics, and its specific position in the tidal flat. The abundance of MPs in core sediment declines with increasing depth. MP abundance is enhanced by sand, which allows easier infiltration and retention of MPs in the deeper sediment layers. Fiber-shaped MPs in size ranges of 0.5-1 mm and 1-2 mm with polyethylene and polypropylene were predominantly identified as the most common MP types. The study also assessed the carbon content of the MPs based on their volume, density, and theoretical carbon percentages. The microplastic-derived carbon (MPC) was found to range from 0.004 to 0.4 mg/kg (0.15 ± 0.11 mg/kg) in the study area. Although this is a small part of carbon burial, the widespread presence of MPs in the environment raises serious environmental concerns. The study highlights salt marsh sediments as sinks for MPs and emphasises the need for targeted pollution management.