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Microplastics in Bays along the Central Texas Coast
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in sediments from Matagorda and San Antonio Bays along the central Texas coast. They found relatively low concentrations, in the range of tens to hundreds of particles per kilogram of sediment, with negligible correlation to grain size, organic content, or water depth. The study suggests that strong wind-driven mixing and flushing into the Gulf of Mexico limits microplastic accumulation within these bays.
Estuarine and bay environments, which can act as sediment traps along the inner parts of continental shelves, may host significant depositional hotspots for plastic debris. This research targets Texas coastal bays (Matagorda and San Antonio), to better understand microplastic contamination in sediments and provide insight into the processes controlling its distribution. Microplastic extraction and quantification methods employed include sediment sieving, elutriation, microscopy, and spectroscopy. This study found low concentrations (ca. 10s-100s particles kilogram-1 sediment or 20-200 × 104 items meter-3 wet sediment) and negligible correlations between analyzed deposit constituents (R2 for grain size = -0.14 to 0.12, organic content = 0.08, water depth = -0.11, distance to shore = -0.14). The highly dynamic role of wind-driven mixing and openness to the Gulf of Mexico leads to the high flushing rate of sediment and microplastics out of the bays. Larger microplastic particles (fragments: 178 ± 93 μm, fibers: 0.5 to 2.0 mm) were consistently deposited with finer sediments, indicating high transportability. Microplastic resuspension into bay waters has significant implications for limiting microplastic accumulation within bay sediments. This work provides a baseline for future studies quantifying the roles of wind and residence time on microplastics in coastal environments.
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Quantitative Analysis of Microplastics on Texas Beaches
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance at three Texas beach sites—Galveston Island, Mustang Island, and Sea Rim—to investigate why Texas coastlines accumulate marine debris at rates ten times higher than comparable Gulf of Mexico shores. The study quantified and characterized microplastics in beach sediments across sites and sampling periods. Findings contribute to understanding the drivers of disproportionate plastic pollution accumulation on Texas beaches.
Abundance and composition of microplastics in Tampico beach sediments, Tamaulipas State, southern Gulf of Mexico
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Researchers analyzed beach sediments from Tampico, Mexico, on the Gulf of Mexico coast and found microplastics present in all samples. The most common types were fragments and fibers made of polyethylene and polypropylene, and concentrations ranged from 256 to 2,830 particles per 20 grams of sediment. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread along Gulf of Mexico coastlines.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in beach sediments: Insights into microplastic accumulation in northern Gulf of Mexico estuaries
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in beach sediments across seven locations in Mobile Bay, a northern Gulf of Mexico estuary. The study found microplastics were ubiquitous at concentrations 66 to 253 times higher than reported for the open ocean, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymers, highlighting the extent of microplastic accumulation in estuarine environments.
Textural characteristics and abundance of microplastics in Tecolutla beach sediments, Gulf of Mexico
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Researchers analyzed the textural characteristics and abundance of microplastics in surface sediments from Tecolutla beach on the Gulf of Mexico coast, contributing baseline data on coastal microplastic pollution in an understudied region of Mexico.
Surface layer microplastic pollution in four bays of the central Mexican Pacific
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Researchers sampled surface microplastics monthly across four bays of the central Mexican Pacific over one year, finding median concentrations between 0.26 and 0.40 particles per square meter with polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant polymers. Fibers dominated most samples, though Manzanillo Bay showed seasonal dominance of fragments during the rainy season.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.