We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in water and mussels sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
More Papers Like This
Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Water and Mussels Sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics in water and mussels from Cape Town Harbour and the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa over two years, finding mainly filamentous particles averaging 7.5 microplastics per mussel and conducting risk assessments of contamination levels.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in retail mussels from Cape Town, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were found in retail mussels from Cape Town, South Africa, with fibers being the most prevalent type and polyester the dominant polymer, raising food safety concerns for one of the country's most widely consumed shellfish.
Microplastics in Mussels Along the Coast of Cape Town, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected microplastics in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected along the Cape Town coastline in South Africa, providing one of the first documented records of microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from the southern African region. The findings suggest widespread plastic pollution reaching filter-feeding organisms in coastal waters.
Meso- and microplastics monitoring in harbour environments: A case study for the Port of Durban, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
The abundance and distribution of meso- and microplastics were investigated in the water column and sediments of Durban Harbour, South Africa, using an immersible pump and particle filtration system. The study established baseline contamination data for a major southern African port environment.
Environmental concentrations, characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in water and sediment along the Western Cape coastline, South Africa
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic levels in water and sediment at 14 sites along the Western Cape coastline of South Africa. They found that sediment contained significantly more microplastics than water, with harbors being the primary contamination hotspot. The study identified polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene as the most common plastic types and flagged potential ecological risks at several sampling locations.
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.