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Floating macroplastic pollution in Korean coastal and offshore areas
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Researchers conducted visual observation surveys during 2022 and 2023 research cruises to document floating macroplastic pollution larger than 2.5 cm in South Korean coastal and offshore waters, including the South Sea and East Sea. They found debris densities ranging from 9 to 1,191 items per km2 and characterized dominant plastic types, filling a data gap given that prior Korean studies had focused primarily on microplastics.
Studies on microplastic pollution in South Korea's seas have been extensive, yet information regarding floating macroplastics larger than 2.5 cm remain scarce. To address this gap, visual observation surveys were conducted during a cruise in the South Sea of Korea in 2023 and the East Sea in 2022 and 2023. The aim was to investigate the level of pollution and characteristics of floating debris in the surface waters around South Korea. The density of floating debris varied from 9 to 1,191 n/km2, with an average of 119 ± 174 n/km2. The mean densities were similar in the South Sea (112 ± 63 n/km2) and East Sea (133 ± 284 n/km2), but the overall pollution level was statistically higher in the South Sea. Particularly, coastal areas exhibited significantly higher densities than offshore areas in the South Sea. Plastic items comprised 90 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559313/document
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Floating macroplastic pollution in Korean coastal and offshore areas
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Researchers conducted visual observation surveys of floating macroplastic debris larger than 2.5 centimeters in the South Sea and East Sea of Korea in 2022 and 2023, finding average densities of 119 items per square kilometer with statistically higher overall pollution levels in the South Sea.
Spatial distribution of microplastic in the surface waters along the coast of Korea
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Scientists surveyed microplastics (0.33–5 mm) across six semi-enclosed bays and two open coastal waters in Korea during July surveys from 2015 to 2017, finding mean abundances of 1.12–4.74 particles per m2 with expanded polystyrene and paint particles as dominant types.
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Researchers collected surface seawater and sediment samples from the South Sea and East China Sea of Korea to map microplastic distribution and identify transport mechanisms. Fragment-shaped microplastics in the 0.02-0.3 mm size range dominated, with concentrations highest in the Yellow Sea area and distribution patterns explained by regional current systems and local land-based inputs.
Baseline Study on Microplastic Distribution in the Open Surface Waters of the Korean Southwest Sea
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Researchers collected surface seawater south of Jeju Island in South Korea and found an average microplastic abundance of 0.46 particles per liter, with polyethylene as the dominant polymer and fragments as the most common shape, establishing a baseline for this understudied ocean region.
Distribution and Size Relationships of Plastic Marine Debris on Beaches in South Korea
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Researchers surveyed plastic marine debris across 12 beaches in South Korea, finding large microplastics (1-5 mm) at mean abundances of 880 particles/m2, with Styrofoam dominating the microplastic and mesoplastic fractions at over 90% of particles. Abundance varied by beach type and location, with exposed beaches showing higher debris concentrations than sheltered ones.
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