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Spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in Miri coastal area, NW Borneo: inference from a periodical observation
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Sediment samples collected across three time periods — monsoon, post-monsoon, and post-COVID — at the Miri coast of Borneo showed a dramatic 148–218% increase in microplastic concentrations in post-COVID samples, likely reflecting increased single-use plastic waste during the pandemic. Fibers dominated (about 64%), with PTFE, PE, and PP as the most common polymer types, and concentrations were highest near river mouths and industrial areas. The findings illustrate how major societal events like a pandemic can rapidly worsen microplastic pollution at the local level.
The current study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the Miri coast, targeting their occurrences, characterisation, and potential sources. For a periodical study, coastal sediments were collected from three different time intervals (monsoon, post-monsoon, and post-COVID) and subjected to stereomicroscope, ATR-FTIR, and SEM-EDX analyses. These results show a significant increase of MPs in post-COVID samples by approximately 218% and 148% comparatively with monsoon and post-monsoon samples, respectively. The highest concentration of MPs was detected near the river mouths and industrial areas where the waste discharge rate and anthropogenic activities dominate. Fibre-type MPs are the most abundant, with an average of nearly 64%, followed by fragments, films, microbeads, and foams. The most dominant polymer types were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyester (PET). Overall, the current study shows a better understanding of MPs occurrence and potential sources in the Miri coastal area.
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