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Occurrence and characteristics of fibreglass-reinforced plastics and microplastics on a beach impacted by abandoned fishing boats: A case study from Chellanam, India

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2023 14 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner N. Manju Lekshmi, N. Manju Lekshmi, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner P. Muhamed Ashraf, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner P. Muhamed Ashraf, P. Muhamed Ashraf, P. Muhamed Ashraf, Sreejith S. Kumar, Sreejith S. Kumar, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner P. Muhamed Ashraf, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner S.P. Nehala, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner S.P. Nehala, Andrew Turner S.P. Nehala, Andrew Turner Leela Edwin, Andrew Turner Leela Edwin, Andrew Turner P. Muhamed Ashraf, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Leela Edwin, Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner Andrew Turner

Summary

This study examined plastic debris from abandoned fishing boats on an Indian beach and found that fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) fragments dominated both the large plastic pool and contributed significantly to the microplastic fraction. FRP microplastics were found to contain hazardous metals including lead at concentrations high enough to raise ecological concern, highlighting abandoned fishing vessels as an underappreciated localised source of hazardous microplastic contamination.

Study Type Environmental

Plastics and microplastics have been quantified and characterised at disposal sites of abandoned fishing boats and along the high-water line (HWL) of a fish landing centre in Chellanam, India. Fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) made a greater contribution to the plastic pool at the disposal sites (~ 4.5 n m and 18 g m) than the HWL (~ 0.25 n m and < 1 g m) and was an abundant component of the microplastic pool at the former. Infrared analysis of micro-sized FRPs revealed various resins (e.g., alkyd, polyester, epoxy), while X-ray fluorescence analysis of the painted surfaces of meso-sized FRPs returned variable concentrations of copper and lead. Concentrations of Pb were high enough to contaminate sand up to ~400 mg kg. The relatively high density of FRP and its association with glass fibres and metal-bearing paints results in particles with potentially very different fates and toxicities to more "conventional" (non-composite) thermoplastics.

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