Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya
Preprints.org2024
4 citations
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Score: 45
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Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
P. G. Y. W. Weerasekara,
P. G. Y. W. Weerasekara,
P. G. Y. W. Weerasekara,
P. G. Y. W. Weerasekara,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
D. S. M. De Silva,
D. S. M. De Silva,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
D. S. M. De Silva,
Adil Bakir,
D. S. M. De Silva,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
D. S. M. De Silva,
D. S. M. De Silva,
D. S. M. De Silva,
Adil Bakir,
D. S. M. De Silva,
D. S. M. De Silva,
D. S. M. De Silva,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
R. C. L. De Silva,
R. C. L. De Silva,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
Adil Bakir,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
D. B. Sivyer,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
A.A.D. Amarathunga,
D. B. Sivyer,
D. B. Sivyer,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Adil Bakir,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Adil Bakir,
C. Reeve
D. B. Sivyer,
D. B. Sivyer,
D. B. Sivyer,
D. B. Sivyer,
Adil Bakir,
D. B. Sivyer,
D. B. Sivyer,
D. B. Sivyer,
C. Reeve
C. Reeve
C. Reeve
D. B. Sivyer,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
Alexandra R. McGoran,
C. Reeve
C. Reeve
C. Reeve
C. Reeve
Summary
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.
Microplastic pollution (MP) in marine environments around the globe is severe and enough precautions have not been taken so far for its prevention. The focus of this study is to quantify MPs from beach sediment and seawater samples and to identify their distribution 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 8 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 surface seawater is dominated by phenol formaldehyde resin, PS, PP and PE.