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Model studies on transport of microplastics from a leak accident
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Researchers investigated a microplastic spill accident along the Chinese coastline and modeled how the particles dispersed across nearby beaches. The study found significant accumulation on multiple beaches within days of the spill, underscoring the rapid spread of plastic pollution in coastal environments after an accidental release.
We investigated an unexpected microplastic (MP) leakage event that occurred along the coastline of Yantai in January 2021. Sediment samples were collected from three zones on 9 beaches. MPs were identified with an average abundance of 247.6±125.6 items/m2 on 7 beaches. The total amount of MPs from the leak accident was estimated to be 1.50×107 items (514.67 kg). The MPs were identified as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and PP/PE blends using μ-FT-IR analysis. By utilizing a numerical model, the transmission process and potential source of MPs were demonstrated. The modeling results showed that the MPs might originate from the central and western part of the Bohai Sea and be driven to the beaches of Yantai by northwest wind and wind-induced surface current. However, due to the absence of direct evidence, the simulation results might only indicate the range of the leaking source, which was the movement trajectory of MPs.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.