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Breaking the coastal barrier: Typhoons convert estuarine mangroves into sources of microplastics to the ocean
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Researchers studied how typhoons affect the ability of mangrove forests in the Shenzhen River estuary to trap microplastics. During calm conditions, mangrove sediments stored high levels of microplastics, but typhoons flushed out roughly 90% of those particles, turning mangroves from microplastic sinks into sources. The findings suggest that extreme weather events can dramatically reshape how microplastics move through coastal ecosystems.
Estuarine mangroves are crucial for trapping microplastics and contributing to coastal protection; however, their effectiveness during extreme weather events remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of typhoons on microplastic dynamics within the watershed-estuary-offshore system and the changes in the role of estuarine mangroves. Surface water from the Shenzhen River and sediments from estuarine mangroves were sampled after typhoons (Saola and Haikui) and during periods of stable hydrodynamic conditions. Our findings indicated that after typhoons, the microplastic content in estuarine water was the lowest at 363 n/m³ compared to upstream and downstream locations, while it was the highest at 812 n/m³ during the dry season. Additionally, microplastic abundance in sediments was higher during low-flow conditions (11,153 n/kg) than after typhoons (1134 n/kg), with only about 10 % retained. Considering river flow, the microplastic flux in the estuary during the typhoon season reached its highest value of 21,816 n/s, indicating that riverine microplastics could be washed downstream and diluted due to increased flow. Polypropylene was the dominant type of microplastic (29.9 %), while synthetic rubber also accounted for a significant proportion, especially after typhoons, likely due to traffic from vehicles and boats around the watershed. Correlation analyses revealed that strong hydrodynamic forces led to a more uniform distribution of microplastics along the river, re-releasing those deposited in estuarine mangroves during the dry season and contributing to marine microplastic pollution. This study highlights how extreme weather shifts urban estuarine mangroves from microplastic sinks to sources, providing new insights into pollution dynamics under climate change.
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The dual role of coastal mangroves: Sinks and sources of microplastics in rapidly urbanizing areas
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Researchers studied microplastic dynamics in mangrove ecosystems along two rivers and a coastal mangrove park in China's Pearl River Estuary. They found that mangroves play a dual role, acting as both sinks that trap microplastics and sources that release them back into the environment. The study highlights that rapid urbanization significantly increases microplastic loads in these sensitive coastal ecosystems.
Microplastic Variations in Land-Based Sources of Coastal Water Affected by Tropical Typhoon Events in Zhanjiang Bay, China
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Researchers analyzed the abundance, composition, diversity, and flux of microplastics from three estuaries and one sewage outlet in Zhanjiang Bay, China, before and after tropical typhoon events, finding a 3.6-fold increase in microplastic abundance from land-based sources following typhoons. The study links increased stormwater discharge during typhoons to elevated microplastic loading in coastal waters, highlighting how climate-driven extreme weather amplifies plastic pollution.
Typhoons increase the abundance of microplastics in the marine environment and cultured organisms: A case study in Sanggou Bay, China
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Typhoon events in Sanggou Bay, China were found to sharply increase microplastic abundance in seawater and cultured organisms, suggesting that extreme weather is an underappreciated driver of episodic microplastic pollution in coastal zones.
New insights into sink-source dynamics of mangrove for microplastics: Quantitative evidences from field observation and resuspension simulation
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Researchers investigated the sink-source dynamics of mangrove ecosystems for microplastics through field observations and resuspension simulation experiments, finding that sediment microplastic abundance increased substantially from mudflats into mangrove forest. Storm surges were identified as the main driver of vertical microplastic displacement in sediments, while particle shape, color, and size governed resuspension behavior.
Microplastics from catchment to offshore: Salinity gradients and seasonal discharge control estuarine trapping efficiency and tidal reimport
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Rivers carry tiny plastic particles (microplastics) toward the ocean, but this study found that estuaries—where rivers meet the sea—act like natural filters, trapping 87-98% of these particles before they reach open water thanks to salty water causing plastic bits to clump and sink. However, big storms like typhoons can temporarily overwhelm this filtering system, flushing far more microplastics offshore than usual, which matters because these particles can end up in seafood and drinking water supplies that people rely on.
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