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Delving into South China Sea microplastic pollution: Abundance, composition, and environmental risk

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2024 5 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Jiehong He, Jiehong He, Jiehong He, Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Xiaoyu Guo, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Xuanwei Zhang, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Xuanwei Zhang, Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Qiang Chen, Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Xuanwei Zhang, Lanfang Han Xiaoyu Guo, Kuo Gao, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han Qiang Chen, Qiang Chen, Chao Xu, Jiehong He, Lanfang Han Lanfang Han

Summary

Researchers characterized microplastic abundance, composition, and environmental risk across four typical islands in the South China Sea, filling a knowledge gap in a region of high ecological and fisheries importance. The study found significant microplastic contamination with polymer types and concentrations posing measurable ecological risk to the archipelago's marine ecosystems.

Polymers

PE PET

Study Type Environmental

Understanding marine pollution in the South China Sea is crucial for preserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Despite extensive research on pollutants, there is a significant gap in knowledge about microplastics (MPs) in the archipelago region. This study focused on four typical islands, examining MPs in seawater and sediments, their distribution, and environmental risks. Most MPs (>90 %) were smaller than 2.5 mm, with black fiber-shaped polyethylene terephthalate MPs being predominant. MPs in seawater had lower abundance (5-12 items/L) compared to sediment (100-2600 items/kg) but showed richer polymer composition. Pollution load index (PLI) and risk index analysis indicated all regions were contaminated (PLI > 1), with the Zhongsha islands being the most polluted. Correlation analysis highlighted black, fibrous PET-like polymers with large particle sizes (>0.5 mm) as major contributors. This study could help to understand the MPs distribution and pollution in the archipelago region of the South China Sea.

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