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Long-term observations of microplastic and mesoplastic distribution on sandy beaches in north-east Taiwan: Impact of typhoons on spatial and temporal variability
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Using two decades of sampling data, researchers tracked long-term trends in microplastic and mesoplastic distribution on sandy beaches, finding steady increases in particle abundance over time with notable accumulation hotspots linked to ocean current patterns.
Plastic pollution in coastal environments poses ecological risks, yet long-term monitoring data and insights into the impacts of extreme weather events remain limited. This study examines the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics and mesoplastics on sandy beaches, with a focus on long-term trends and the influence of typhoons. Samples were collected from two beaches in northern Taiwan over a 20-month period, spanning 8-9 sampling sessions per site. A dense grid sampling approach (50 × 50 cm quadrats) was used across three transects. Post-typhoon microplastic abundances peaked at 5080.6 pcs/kg dry weight (d.w.) at Xialiao Beach, where the average concentration was 115.3 pcs/kg d.w., compared to 18.1 pcs/kg d.w. at Longmen Beach. Typhoon events increased plastic particle accumulation, primarily along storm lines and backshore areas, but long-term accumulation was not observed, indicating dynamic deposition and removal processes. These findings emphasize the need for long-term monitoring through repeated sampling campaigns conducted over an extended period, and high-resolution monitoring using a dense sampling grid, to accurately assess plastic pollution. Single-event studies risk misrepresenting pollution levels due to spatial and temporal variability.
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Researchers collected beach sand samples from two northern Taiwan beaches over 20 months, tracking how typhoons changed the amounts and types of plastic particles. The dataset captures how extreme weather events redistribute plastic pollution along coastlines, providing a valuable time-series resource for studying how climate-driven storms affect microplastic accumulation on beaches.
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Researchers systematically mapped microplastic and mesoplastic pollution across Xialiao Beach in Taiwan, recovering 1,939 particles from 80 samples and finding that the backshore contained significantly more plastic than intertidal zones, with extrapolation suggesting approximately 6.8 million particles (≥1 mm) across the beach surface.
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Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic pollution on Taiwan's beaches, collecting sand from four northern coast sites and recovering 1,097 particles weighing 0.77 g in total, identifying microplastics as ubiquitous and finding a negative relationship between particle size and abundance consistent with fragmentation processes.
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Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic pollution on beaches along the Hengchun Peninsula in Taiwan, sampling eight beaches in two seasons and finding microplastics in all locations with higher abundances in summer. The results provide baseline contamination data for a major tourist coastal area and document seasonal variation in beach microplastic accumulation.
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