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Effect of seasonal dynamics on microplastic pollution and its vectorization of heavy metals: An in-vitro toxicity assessment in Artemia franciscana
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Researchers measured microplastic levels at a coastal site in Chennai, India, before and after a major cyclone and found that concentrations increased significantly in both sediment and seawater following the storm. They also found heavy metals like aluminum, zinc, and lead attached to the microplastic surfaces, and toxicity tests showed these contaminated particles caused oxidative stress in brine shrimp. The study demonstrates how extreme weather events can redistribute and intensify microplastic pollution in coastal environments.
This study extensively investigated the abundance of microplastics in Thiruvottiyur coastal area of Chennai, India, before and after Cyclone Michaung. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between microplastic distribution and aftermath rainfall. The concentration of microplastics in sediments increased from 150 ± 48 particles kg to 186 ± 21 particles kg after the cyclone. In seawater, the concentration rose from 1.28 particles L to 3.65 particles L, respectively. Heavy metals such as Al, Mg, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Cd, Co, and As were detected on the surface of microplastics, demonstrating their vectorization potential for co-contaminants. After exposure, these microplastics induced oxidative stress in Artemia franciscana with increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Fluctuations in weather conditions lead to heterogeneous changes in microplastic distribution, revealing the seasonal dynamics of microplastics. This study will provide background information to devise strategies for mitigating microplastic pollution in the marine environment.
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Researchers compared microplastic pellet abundance on the Chennai coast before and after a major 2015 flood and found a threefold increase in pellet density post-flood, attributing the surge to urban river runoff carrying fresh plastic debris — demonstrating that extreme rainfall events are significant episodic drivers of coastal microplastic pollution.
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Surveys of four coastal zones in Tamil Nadu, India found microplastics in both sediments and water at all sites, with the highest concentrations during the monsoon season when river runoff carries more plastic waste into the ocean. The researchers identified 16–23 different polymer types per season and found that weathered particles were carrying hazardous heavy metals on their surfaces. The study provides one of the most detailed spatiotemporal profiles of coastal microplastic contamination in India, underscoring the need for urgent pollution control measures in heavily populated coastal regions.
Impacts of extreme weather events on microplastic distribution in coastal environments
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Researchers conducted a year-long survey in Hong Kong to study how extreme weather events affect microplastic distribution in coastal environments. They found that typhoons and rainstorms dramatically increased microplastic levels, with abundance jumping 5 to 36 times higher after major storms. The study suggests that extreme weather is the primary driver of seasonal variation in coastal microplastic pollution, which has implications as these events become more frequent.
Microplastic occurrence in the northern South China Sea, A case for Pre and Post cyclone analysis
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in the northern South China Sea before and after a cyclone, finding that the storm event significantly altered microplastic distribution patterns in both coastal seawater and sediments.
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.
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