We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic Pollution and Its Potential Correlation with Environmental Factors in Daya Bay, South China Sea
Summary
Researchers surveyed 26 sites in Daya Bay, China, finding microplastics in both surface water (up to ~14 items/L) and sediment (up to ~823 items/kg), with fibers and PET the dominant types. The study also identified correlations between microplastic abundance and environmental factors, highlighting how coastal waters near urbanized areas accumulate significant plastic contamination that threatens marine life.
Microplastics (MPs) have been given considerable attention due to their risk to aquatic organisms in marine environments. In this study, MPs’ abundance and their potential correlation with environmental factors were investigated from 26 sites in Daya Bay, South China Sea. The results showed that the abundance of MPs was 1.8–13.87 items/L in surface water and 190–823 items/kg (dry weight) in sediment. The most abundant shape of MPs in both water and sediment was fiber, the most abundant particle size was 0.5–1 mm and the most abundant color was transparent. In addition, the most common polymer type of MPs was polyethylene terephthalate (PET), followed by rayon (RY), polypropylene (PP), cellulose (CL) and polyethylene (PE). The abundance of MPs in sediment was significantly correlated with sediment organic N and C (p < 0.05), while that in surface water had no significant correlation with the environmental factors except dissolved oxygen (p > 0.05). A factor analysis showed that MPs in sediment might share similar sources with organic N and C, which were mainly from the autochthonous sedimentation of marine organisms, and MPs might sediment jointly with organic matter. In summary, this study reflects on MP pollution and the potential correlation with environmental factors, providing essential data for governmental agencies to formulate microplastic pollution control policies.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the seawater and sediment: A case study in Jiaozhou Bay, China
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the seawater and sediments of Jiaozhou Bay, a semi-enclosed bay in China heavily impacted by human activity. They found microplastic concentrations of 20 to 120 items per cubic meter in seawater and 7 to 25 items per kilogram in sediment, with fibers being the dominant shape and PET the most common polymer. The study found positive correlations between microplastic levels in water and sediment, and higher concentrations near areas with residual ocean currents.
Distribution pattern and influencing factors for the microplastics in continental shelf, slope, and deep-sea surface sediments from the South China Sea
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in surface sediments across the continental shelf, slope, and deep-sea floor of the northern South China Sea. The study found an average abundance of about 131 particles per kilogram, with distribution patterns influenced by ocean currents, water depth, and proximity to river inputs.
Microplastic pollution in surface seawater of Sanggou Bay, China: Occurrence, source and inventory
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the surface seawater of Sanggou Bay, China, finding average abundances of 20.06 items per litre dominated by polyethylene fragments smaller than 0.5 mm, and estimating that approximately 62.76% of the microplastic inventory originated from local aquaculture and fishing activities.
Microplastic Contamination on the Beaches of South China
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across 14 beaches along the South China coast, finding microplastics ubiquitously present in sandy sediments, predominantly as small fragments under 1 mm, with distribution patterns linked to coastal urbanization and ocean current dynamics.
Distribution and environmental risk assessment of microplastics in continental shelf sediments in the southern East China Sea: A high-spatial-resolution survey
Researchers conducted a high-spatial-resolution survey of microplastics in surface sediments across the southern East China Sea continental shelf, finding omnipresent contamination dominated by polyethylene fibers and fragments, with concentrations elevated near urban coastal areas.