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Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of the Kelani River to Mahaoya
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Microplastics were found in both beach sediments and coastal seawater along 42 kilometers of Sri Lanka's western coastline, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common types. The results document significant plastic contamination along the coast of a densely populated South Asian nation, raising concerns about exposure for coastal communities and marine life in the Indian Ocean region.
Microplastic pollution (MP) in marine environments around the globe is severe and insufficient precautions have yet to be taken for its prevention. The focus of this study was on quantifying MPs from beach sediment and seawater samples and identifying their distributions and types along the western coast of Sri Lanka from the Kelani River estuary to the Mahaoya estuary. Nine sites along this 42 km stretch were selected, and random sampling was employed to collect a minimum of eight sediment samples from each site between October and December 2021. Water samples were also collected, parallel to the sediments, from the ocean surface. FTIR analysis revealed that most of the MPs found were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and phenol formaldehyde resin. The mean abundance of MPs varied from 2.0 ± 0.6 items/L to 161.0 ± 15.7 items/L in water samples and from 3.0 ± 0.3 items/m2 to 656.0 ± 34.5 items/m2 in sediment samples. The MPs found were identified in different shapes as fragments (80.2%), pellets (14.9%), fibers (2.7%), and foams (2.5%). Analysis revealed that the beach sediments were contaminated with PS, phenol formaldehyde resin, PET, PP, and PE, while the surface seawater was dominated by phenol formaldehyde resin, PS, PP, and PE.
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Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya
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Microplastic abundance and types were quantified in beach sediments and seawater across nine sites along 42 km of Sri Lanka's western coast, documenting widespread contamination in estuarine and coastal environments.
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Researchers collected water and sediment samples from nine locations along the Kelani River estuary in Sri Lanka and found evidence of microplastic contamination at all sites from headwaters to the coast. The study is one of the first to document microplastic pollution in Sri Lankan waterways, highlighting a gap in regional monitoring.
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Researchers surveyed microplastic levels and water quality at 12 coastal sites along Sri Lanka's western and southern coast, finding microplastics present at all locations with fibers being the dominant form. The study also found correlations between microplastic abundance and certain water quality parameters, suggesting that areas with poorer water quality tended to have higher plastic loads. The research adds to growing evidence that South Asian coastal waters are significantly contaminated with microplastics, with potential implications for marine food webs and fishing communities.
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