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Beach and Marine Microplastics
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Microplastics reach marine and beach environments through industrial discharge, weathering of plastic litter, and catastrophic spill events such as the 2021 MV X-Press Pearl shipwreck off Sri Lanka — the worst recorded microplastic spill in history. This chapter reviews sources, transport pathways, and the range of physicochemical removal strategies developed to date, using the Sri Lanka spill response as a real-world case study for large-scale marine microplastic remediation.
The ubiquitous presence of marine and beach microplastics has become a growing concern due to its global issues. The release of industrial waste and the degradation of anthropogenic and flotsam plastic litter through the biological and physicochemical weathering process causes the emergence of microplastics in marine environments. Moreover, maritime accidents cause the spillage of primary microplastics into the sea as seen in the case of the worst-ever microplastic spillage from the MV X-Press Pearl shipwreck incident in Sri Lanka. The long-term presence of marine microplastics ultimately impacts marine organisms posing various health issues. It is urgent to study the marine microplastic removal strategies that have been experienced to date. Though several microplastic removal techniques have been performed at the laboratory scale, more information on practically applicable removal methods for large-scale incidents does not exist. Physicochemical removal methods were used in most cases to mitigate marine microplastic pollution. This chapter provides a descriptive overview of the sources, pathways, distribution, and fate of marine microplastics and comprehensively discusses the novel physicochemical approaches to remove microplastics from marine ecosystems. Further, the microplastic removal techniques practiced in Sri Lanka after the microplastic spillage incident are used as a case study in this chapter.
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Unprecedented marine microplastic contamination from the X-Press Pearl container vessel disaster
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Coastal pollution was assessed following the MV X-Press Pearl container ship disaster off Sri Lanka, which was described as the worst maritime accident involving chemicals and plastics and released massive quantities of plastic nurdles onto beaches. Field sampling documented extensive nurdle contamination and associated toxic element accumulation along the coastline.
Maritime disasters and pollution: X-Press Pearl maritime debacle.
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This paper reviews the marine pollution consequences of the X-Press Pearl shipping disaster, which released thousands of tons of plastic pellets and chemicals into Sri Lankan waters in 2021. The incident highlights how maritime accidents can cause sudden, large-scale microplastic contamination events and underscores the need for better prevention, response, and international coordination.
Sources and Fate of Plastics into Microplastics
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This book chapter provides an overview of how plastics degrade into primary and secondary microplastics through physical, chemical, photodegradation, thermal, and biological processes. Researchers also reviewed remediation methods including sorption, filtration, chemical, and biological approaches for removing microplastics from the environment. The study includes evidence from the X-Press Pearl maritime accident to illustrate the long-term pollution consequences of plastic nurdle spills.
Cross-Shore Microplastic Accumulation on Sri Lanka’s West Coast One Year After the Catastrophic X-Press Pearl Pollution Event
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Researchers conducted a detailed survey of microplastic pellet contamination along Sri Lanka's west coast one year after the catastrophic X-Press Pearl container ship disaster, which released an estimated 50 billion plastic pellets. They found that pellets were still widely present in beach sediments, with some locations showing very high densities. The study demonstrates that a single marine pollution event can result in persistent, long-term microplastic contamination of coastal environments.
Plastics, Nurdles, and Pyrogenic Microplastics in the Coastal Marine Environment
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Researchers examined plastic nurdle pollution and pyrogenic microplastics in coastal marine environments, with a focus on the MV X-Press Pearl cargo ship fire in Sri Lanka — the largest plastic-based maritime disaster from a single vessel in history, involving nearly 12,000 metric tonnes of plastic materials. The study documented the types and distribution of floating debris, nurdles, and fire-altered pyrogenic microplastics generated by the shipwreck along Sri Lankan coastlines.
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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.