0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Seasonal distribution and abundance of microplastics in the coastal sediments of north eastern Arabian Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2023 44 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Udai Ram Gurjar, K.A. Martin Xavier, Satya Prakash Shukla, Suman Takar, A. K. Jaiswar, Geetanjali Deshmukhe, Binaya Bhusan Nayak

Summary

Researchers documented seasonal variation in microplastic abundance along India's North Eastern Arabian Sea coast, finding 4,400 to 15,300 items per kilogram of dry sediment with fibers as the dominant form across ten identified polymer types.

Polymers
Study Type Environmental

The present study reports site-specific data on the seasonal variation in microplastic abundance and characteristics in coastal sediments along the North Eastern Arabian Sea, India. The abundance of MP in coastal sediments ranged from 4400 to 15,300 items/kg dry weight (DW), with the dominance of the size ranging between 100 and 500 μm. In the studied sediment samples, fibers were the most dominant form, followed by fragments. Ten different microplastics polymers were recorded during the study with dominance of polyethylene, polyester, polyamide and all the recorded plastic items in the sediments were denser than water, except polyethylene. The mean abundance of MP in sediments was significantly higher in the monsoon season. During this season, freshwater flow increases to the sea, which brings a higher concentration of microplastics from catchment areas. For a better insight, more time-series data and research are required to assess the source of MP pollution, understand spatial-temporal variations in MP abundance and their possible hazardous impacts on marine organisms and the environment.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Deciphering the seasonal dynamics of microplastic morphotypes and associated co-contaminants along the northwest coast of India

Researchers studied seasonal variations in microplastic abundance along the northwest coast of India bordering the Arabian Sea. The study found dramatically higher microplastic concentrations during monsoon season compared to pre- and post-monsoon periods, with polypropylene and high-density polyethylene as the dominant polymer types.

Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on Abundance of Microplastic in Sediments and Water Samples Along the Coast of Pakistan (Sindh and Balochistan)-Northern Arabian Sea

Researchers found high levels of microplastic contamination along 25 locations on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coastline, with mean concentrations of 582 particles/L in seawater and 987 particles/kg in sediment, and fibers comprising up to 99% of all detected microplastics.

Article Tier 2

Seasonal distribution of microplastics in surface waters of the Northern Indian Ocean

Researchers documented seasonal distribution of microplastics in Northern Indian Ocean surface waters across three monsoon periods, finding polyethylene and polypropylene dominated at 83%, with fibers accounting for 86% of all particles.

Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contaminants in the Sediment of the East Coast of Saudi Arabia

Researchers conducted the first measurement of microplastic contamination in sediments along four beaches on Saudi Arabia's east coast, finding 586 microplastic particles with fibers being the dominant shape (96%) and polyethylene terephthalate the most common polymer type, with abundance varying between tidal zones.

Article Tier 2

Type and Distribution of Microplastics in Beach Sediment along the Coast of the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Researchers examined microplastic distribution in beach sediments along the eastern Gulf of Thailand across two monsoon seasons, finding up to 1,698 pieces/m2 at the most contaminated site with PET (39.6%) and polyamide (22.8%) as the dominant polymer types among 17 identified.

Share this paper