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Characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in water and mussels sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa
Summary
Researchers characterized microplastics in water and mussel samples from Cape Town Harbour and the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa, finding primarily fibrous black or grey particles between 1 and 2 mm in size. The study provides baseline data for microplastic contamination in a major South African port and a controlled aquarium environment.
Abstract Knowledge about the abundances and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) is becoming important to assess the potential effects MPs have on organisms and ecosystems. The aim of this study was to provide a baseline of MPs in Cape Town Harbour (CTH) and the Two Oceans Aquarium (TOA) in Cape Town, South Africa from 2018 to 2020. Water and mussel samples were analyzed for MPs at 3 sites in CTH and TOA, respectively. Microplastics were mainly filamentous, black/grey and 1000–2000 µm in size. A total of 1778 MPs, with an average of 7.50 (± 0.6 SEM) MPs/unit was recorded for the study period. MP concentrations were higher in water (10.3 ± 1.1 MPs/L) than mussel samples (6.27 ± 0.59 MPs/individual and 3.05 ± 1.09 MPs/g soft tissue wet weight). Mean MP concentrations in water samples collected in CTH (12.08 ± 1.3 SEM MPs/L) were significantly higher (4.61 ± 1.1 MPs/L) than inside the TOA, (U = 536, p = 0.04). A risk assessment (Pollution Load Index, Polymer Risk Index and Pollution Risk Index) of MPs sampled indicated that MPs in water poses a greater ecological risk when compared to mussels. Our results indicate that there is a need to monitor MPs in coastal waters and aquaria facilities in South Africa.