We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Assessment of microplastic contamination in the urban lower Chao Phraya River of Bangkok city, Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected microplastics from five sites along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok using a Manta net and identified polymers via FTIR, finding average concentrations of 21 particles/m3 with polypropylene dominant and highest counts at midstream urban sites, indicating that single-use plastic packaging degradation is a primary source of riverine microplastic pollution in this urban corridor.
Rivers are one of the major pathways for the transportation of microplastics (MPs) from land-based sources to the ocean. However, there are only a few studies on MPs in freshwater environments, particularly in Asian countries. In this study, MP contamination in the Chao Phraya River in selected locations distributed throughout Bangkok, Thailand was investigated. MPs were collected using a Manta net with a mesh size of 335 μm. After digestion and distinction based on density, MPs were observed using a stereomicroscope, and polymer types were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. MP concentrations detected in the five sampling locations of the river water from upstream to downstream were 11, 35, 40, 15, and 4 particles/m3, with an average concentration of 21±16 particles/m3. Most MPs were identified as either fragments or sheets/films. Polypropylene was the dominant polymer type. The number of MPs increases as their size decreases. Potential sources of MPs may include the degradation of single-use plastic products, especially containers and plastic packaging. MP concentrations and characteristics varied for different locations, indicating different sources and pathways of MPs in urban contexts. Further investigation on the different pathways of the transportation of MPs to river water from land-based sources is required.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics Contamination in a High Population Density Area of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
AI summary Read the abstract
This study measured microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediment from a densely populated stretch of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, finding particles at all sites with higher levels in sediment than in water. Bangkok's high population density and inadequate plastic waste management are major contributors to microplastic contamination in this major urban river.
Quantification for the Flow of Microplastic Particles in Urban Environment: A Case of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok Thailand : A Minor Field Study
AI summary Read the abstract
This minor field study quantifies the flow of microplastic particles in the urban environment of Bangkok, focusing on the Chao Phraya River as a pathway for plastic transport to the ocean.
Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied microplastic pollution in Thailand's Chao Phraya River and found that population density and land use strongly influence contamination levels. Urban areas had the highest microplastic concentrations, and many particles were contaminated with heavy metals. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers can serve as carriers of toxic metals, compounding the pollution risk for downstream communities.
Microplastic contamination on the lower Chao Phraya: Abundance, characteristic and interaction with heavy metals
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic abundance, characteristics, and heavy metal interactions in water and sediment samples from the lower Chao Phraya River in Thailand, collecting samples via manta trawl and sediment grab. The study documented the distribution and polymer types of microplastics in a Southeast Asian river and examined their capacity to carry associated heavy metal contaminants.
Spatial and temporal variations of microplastics in the lower Chao Phraya River, Thailand: an investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic period
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers systematically measured microplastics in the lower Chao Phraya River, Thailand, during the COVID-19 pandemic period across spatial and temporal gradients. Average MP abundance was 8.3 ± 5.8 particles/m, dominated by PE and PP fibers and fragments, with higher concentrations downstream in urbanized areas and slight seasonal elevation in wet season runoff.
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.