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Insights into the seasonal distribution of microplastics and their associated biofilms in the water column of two tropical estuaries
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Researchers tracked microplastic levels and the bacterial communities growing on them in a tropical estuary in southwest India across wet and dry seasons. Microplastic concentrations were about seven times higher during the wet season due to increased runoff, and the biofilms on these plastics included potentially harmful bacteria. The study shows that seasonal weather patterns influence how much microplastic contamination reaches coastal waters where local communities fish and collect seafood.
The present study describes the seasonal distribution of microplastics (MPs) and their associated biofilms in the water column of the Netravathi-Gurupura estuary, southwest India. An average abundance of 8.15 (±3.81) particles/l and 1.14 (±0.78) particles/l was observed during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Fibres, films, and fragments accounted for majority of the microplastics. Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester, polystyrene, and high-density polyethylene were the major polymers. The risk assessment revealed a low Pollution Load Index, but the Polymer Hazard Index showed higher toxicity. Diatoms from nine genera were observed attached to the microplastic samples with Amphora and Navicula spp. reported in both estuaries during both seasons. The considerable diversity of diatoms, along with other microbial groups, in microplastic-associated biofilms in this study, highlights the urgent need to understand the structure and development of microplastic-associated biofilms and their role in the vertical and horizontal transport of microplastics in tropical estuaries.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.