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Seasonal effects, spatial distribution, and possible sources of microplastics in the Chao Phraya River estuary, Thailand
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This study tracked microplastic abundance and distribution in the Chao Phraya River estuary in Thailand across dry and wet seasons. Plastic levels varied significantly by season and location, with the estuary serving as a key pathway for plastic debris entering the marine environment.
Microplastics (MPs) in estuaries are sources of plastic debris that enter the marine environment. However, there is limited information on the seasonal effect on the accumulation of MPs in the estuaries of Thailand. The abundance and spatial distribution of MPs in the dry and wet seasons were investigated in the Chao Phraya River estuary, and possible emission sources were traced. Dominant factors affecting the distribution patterns of MPs have also been reported. All collected water samples contained MPs, with a mean abundance of 4.0 ± 2.8 × 105 particles/km2 in the wet season and 5.2 ± 3.3 × 105 particles/km2 in the dry season. Fragments were mostly observed, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the dominant polymers. The findings also showed that accumulation of MPs was directly influenced by the river discharge rate into the estuary. Further, the spatial distribution of MPs was closely related to seasonal variations in sea surface currents. Microplastic pollution status with seasonal variations and possible emission sources could provide important information to the government and local environmental organizations for MP pollution prevention and future MP studies in estuarine environments.
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Researchers investigated seasonal variations in microplastic contamination in estuarine sediments from an urban canal in Phuket, Thailand. They found microplastic abundance was higher in the dry season than the rainy season, with rayon and polyester being the most common polymer types, suggesting that seasonal hydrological patterns and human activities both influence microplastic distribution in urban estuaries.
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Researchers sampled surface water across 70-74 sites in the Inner Gulf of Thailand in both dry and wet seasons, finding microplastic concentrations 4 times higher in the wet season (34.59 pieces/L) than the dry season (8.70 pieces/L). River discharge was identified as the key driver of microplastic input to the coastal sea, and polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymers.
Horizontal variation of microplastics with tidal fluctuation in the Chao Phraya River Estuary, Thailand
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Microplastic concentrations and composition in the Chao Phraya River Estuary in Thailand varied with tidal cycle, with flood tides increasing marine-sourced particles and ebb tides flushing river-derived fragments, showing that tidal dynamics must be accounted for in estuarine microplastic sampling designs.
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This study was the first to assess how tidal changes affect microplastic concentrations in the Chao Phraya River estuary in Thailand, finding abundances ranging from 1.37 to 4.51 pieces per liter across the tidal cycle. Fibers and fragments dominated, with ecological risk assessed as moderate.
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