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Monsoonal and tidal influences on plastic debris accumulation along a tropical coast
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Researchers found that plastic trash washing up on a Thai beach changes dramatically with the seasons, nearly doubling during the northeast monsoon and piling up most right at the high-tide line, mainly as fibers and broken-down fragments from common plastics like grocery bags and food containers. This matters because as this debris weathers on beaches, it breaks down into smaller microplastics that can enter the food chain (including seafood we eat) and eventually our bodies, so knowing exactly when and where plastic accumulates most can help target cleanup efforts before it fragments further.
Although microplastic contamination has increasingly been documented in Thai coastal environments, comparable information on monsoonal and tidal-zone variation in macroplastic debris remains limited. This study investigated sediment-embedded macroplastic debris (>5 mm) along the Rayong coast, Gulf of Thailand, during the northeast (NE), southwest (SW), and inter-monsoon (IM) periods, and surface macroplastic debris during the SW and IM periods. Embedded debris was collected from triplicate 50 × 50 cm quadrats in each of two operationally defined tidal zones at 12 stations: the high-tide line and a lower-beach position 10 m seaward. Surface litter was surveyed only during SW and IM using one 10 × 10 m quadrat at each station, covering 1200 m per campaign. Plastic debris was characterized by shape, color, size, and polymer composition using visual examination and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Mean embedded macroplastic abundance was 16.2 items m, peaking during NE (30.9) and at the high-tide line (19.3). Negative binomial GLMs confirmed significant monsoonal and tidal-zone effects (p < 0.05). Fibers, white items, mesoplastics (5-25 mm), PE, and PP predominated. PERMANOVA revealed significant monsoon-related variation in shape, color, size, and polymer composition. Surface-litter density was higher during IM than during SW. Correspondingly, item-based Clean Coast Index values increased from 8.27 ("moderate") during SW to 18.12 ("dirty") during IM. Sand dominated and varied spatially, but grain-size fractions were not significant with sediment-embedded macroplastic abundance. These findings provide a regional baseline for season- and location-specific monitoring and targeted plastic-litter management.
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution around Si Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand across different monsoon seasons and found that seasonal weather patterns strongly influence microplastic abundance and distribution. Evidence suggests that UV exposure during dry seasons fragments plastic waste on land, which is then washed into the ocean by heavy rains during the wet season. The findings highlight how tropical climate cycles drive microplastic contamination in Southeast Asian coral reef areas.
Impact of seasonal variations on microplastic accumulation and characteristics in sandy beaches of Sichang Island, the inner Gulf of Thailand
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Researchers measured microplastic abundance in beach sediments on Sichang Island in the Gulf of Thailand across dry and wet seasons, finding that seasonal monsoon winds and currents strongly affected where plastics accumulated — increasing contamination on exposed windward beaches and reducing it on sheltered leeward ones. Polypropylene was the most common polymer found, and smaller microplastic particles became less abundant after the wet season, possibly dispersed further by wave action. The work highlights how local geography and seasonal weather patterns shape where microplastics concentrate along coastlines.
Spatiotemporal variation of macroplastic debris on recreational beaches of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India
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Researchers tracked plastic litter on two beaches in Ratnagiri, India for a year and found that pollution nearly doubled during monsoon season, mostly from plastic bags and packaging washed in by rivers. While these beaches are cleaner than famous tourist spots like Goa and Mumbai, the trend signals that fast-growing coastal towns need better waste management now—before plastic buildup worsens and breaks down into microplastics that can enter seafood and, ultimately, our bodies.
Influence of semidiurnal tidal dynamics on the multi-characteristic potential ecological risk of microplastics in the Bang Pakong River Estuary, Thailand
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Scientists tracking tiny plastic particles in a Thailand river estuary found that levels rise and fall with the tides, with the highest amounts and the most hazardous plastic types (like polyurethane and epoxy resin) showing up during incoming tides. This matters because these waterways often connect to seafood sources and drinking water supplies, and the study shows that standard pollution-risk tests may actually be underestimating how dangerous these plastics are—suggesting we need better tracking methods to truly understand our exposure risk.
Seasonal microplastic variations in estuarine sediments from urban canal on the west coast of Thailand: A case study in Phuket province
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Researchers investigated seasonal variations in microplastic contamination in estuarine sediments from an urban canal in Phuket, Thailand. They found microplastic abundance was higher in the dry season than the rainy season, with rayon and polyester being the most common polymer types, suggesting that seasonal hydrological patterns and human activities both influence microplastic distribution in urban estuaries.
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