We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Abundance And Distribution Of Plastic Debris In Beach Sediment And Seawater Of The Northern Straits Of Malacca
Summary
Researchers surveyed the abundance and distribution of macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in beach sediments and seawater along the Northern Straits of Malacca in Malaysia, providing baseline contamination data relevant to the country's national roadmap toward reducing single-use plastics.
Plastics account for 60% - 80% of marine debris worldwide and Malaysia is the top three plastic polluter country in the world through river pathway to marine environment in 2021. A comprehensive database of the status of plastic pollution in Malaysia is needed to help in achieving better management of plastics, such as the plan in Malaysia’s Roadmap toward Zero-Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030 and Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030. This study aims to record the abundance of macro- (> 2.5 cm) and meso-plastic (0.5 – 2.5 cm) debris at selected beaches and microplastics (<0.5 cm) at selected sea surface in the northern Straits of Malacca. All study sites are publicly accessible beaches (Pulau Songsong, Teluk Aling, and Pulau Gazumbo) except Pulau Lembu which is in a Marine Protected Area (MPA). The debris was collected from predetermined transects on the beach and categorised according to its size, form and economic market segments in Malaysia. Most of the macro- (53 – 75% of total mass; p=0.0277, α<0.05) and meso-plastics (53 – 80% of the total number) were accumulated at the backshore area. Public beaches such as Pulau Gazumbo (7.32 ± 9.90 g/m2) and Pulau Songsong (9.77 ± 11.35 g/m2) recorded the highest mass of macroplastics per area by zone. Teluk Aling recorded the lowest mass of macroplastics per area by zone (3.58 ± 3.21 g/m2) but the highest in mesoplastic (0.56 ± 0.60 item/m2). By number, the highest number of macroplastics per area by zone was found at Teluk Aling (1.10 ± 1.29 item/m2) and Pulau Lembu (1.19 ± 0.30 item/m2), while the lowest was found at Pulau Gazumbo (0.44 ± 0.61 item/m2).
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Abundance and Distribution of Macro- and Mesoplastic Debris on Selected Beaches in the Northern Strait of Malacca
Macro- and mesoplastic debris surveys at four beaches in the northern Strait of Malacca, Malaysia, found concentrations up to 9.77 g per square meter of macroplastics, dominated by packaging materials, with even a Marine Protected Area site showing significant plastic accumulation.
Marine Macro- And Microplastic Litter Along The Coastal Area Of Kuala Perlis
Researchers surveyed macro- and microplastic litter along the coastal area of Kuala Perlis in northern Malaysia, finding plastic debris at all sampling sites. The study provides baseline contamination data for this understudied coastal region.
Identification, Abundance, and Chemical Characterization of Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastics in the Intertidal Zone Sediments of Two Selected Beaches in Sabah, Malaysia
Researchers identified and characterized macro-, meso-, and microplastics in intertidal sediments of two beaches in Sabah, Malaysia, finding significant plastic contamination with heavy metal associations that pose potential ecological risks to coastal environments.
Marine Macro- and Micro Plastic Litter on Beach Sediment of Northern Peninsular Malaysia
A survey of beaches on Malaysia's northern Peninsular coast found abundant macro- and microplastic litter in sediments, with a correlation between the amount of macroplastic debris and microplastic concentration in the same area. The findings suggest that reducing visible plastic litter on beaches would also reduce the microplastic load accumulating in coastal sediments, where it can persist and affect marine organisms for decades.
Spatial Distribution of Microplastics Abundance Along Selected Beaches in Kelantan, Malaysia
Researchers surveyed ten beaches along the Kelantan coast in Malaysia and found over 1,600 microplastic particles, averaging about 5.4 pieces per gram of sediment, with fragments being the most common type. PVC, polypropylene, and polystyrene were the dominant polymer types, and intertidal zones were the most heavily contaminated areas. The study provides important baseline data on microplastic pollution patterns along these Malaysian coastlines, which can help guide future cleanup and prevention efforts.