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Preliminary Study on the Role of Mangroves in Entrapping Microplastics in Tuticorin Coast of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India
Summary
Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in mangrove sediments versus open-beach control sites along the coast of southern India and found consistently higher levels within mangrove areas. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers in the 1–3 mm range were most common, and weathering analysis confirmed significant environmental degradation of the particles. The findings suggest that mangrove root systems act as natural traps for microplastics, which has implications for both ecosystem health and the many coastal communities that rely on mangroves for fisheries and shore protection.
Mangroves constitute a unique and important type of coastal wetlands in tropical and subtropical zones worldwide. The abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the mangrove sediments is poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the role of mangrove root systems in effectively entrapping MPs in the mangrove areas of Tuticorin and Punnakayal Estuary. It investigated the abundance, characteristics, and weathering patterns of MPs in different mangrove sediments. Sediment samples were collected from ten mangrove sites and two control sites without mangroves. Microplastics were extracted from mangrove sediments by density separation method, and then counted and categorized according to their shape, size, and colour. Microplastics were identified in all ten sampling sites. Punnakayal Estuary has a greater MPs concentration (27 ± 2.65 items/kg dw) than Tuticorin (9.33 ± 2.52 items/kg dw). Also, microplastic concentrations are higher in the mangrove sites than in the control sites. Most MPs are fibres with size ranges of 1-2 mm and 2-3 mm dominating. Blue and transparent are the predominant colours. Four polymers were identified, namely polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polymethyl methaacrylate (PMMA), and polyurethane (PUR). The degree of weathering was confirmed by carbonyl index and the values vary between 0.28 and 1.25 for PE and 0.6 and 1.05 for PP.