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Seasonal variation of microplastics in tropical mangrove waters of South-western India
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Researchers measured seasonal variations in microplastic contamination within tropical mangrove waters in South-Western India. They found that post-monsoon concentrations were highest at 1.42 microplastics per liter, while monsoon season had the lowest levels at 0.19 per liter. Fibers were the most common particle type, with polymers including polypropylene, PET, and polyethylene identified, likely originating from local tourism, aquaculture, and marine industries.
The current study investigates the seasonal variations in microplastic (MP) contamination, specifically those ranging in size from 0.1 mm to 5 mm, within the tropical mangroves of Kota, South-Western India. Mean concentrations (± standard deviation) of 1.42 ± 0.92 MPs/L (post-monsoon), 0.62 ± 0.38 MPs/L (pre-monsoon), and 0.19 ± 0.08 MPs/L (monsoon) were observed. Fibres emerged as the most abundant category across all samples, with a dominant size fraction of less than 1 mm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) analyses identified various polymer types, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Potential sources of microplastic contamination in the region could be ascribed to tourism, marine product-related industries, prawn farming, and residents. The findings of this study offer crucial insights into the seasonal fluctuations of microplastic contamination in the blue carbon ecosystems of Kota mangroves.
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