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A baseline study of meso and microplastic predominance in pristine beach sediment of the Indian tropical island ecosystem
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Researchers conducted a baseline survey of meso- and microplastic contamination on beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, finding plastic debris present even in these relatively remote tropical island ecosystems, with fragments and films being the most common types.
The global presence and prevalence of microplastic have moved microplastic from an emerging pollutant to a persistent contaminant. Microplastic prevails in almost all spheres of the environment viz. terrestrial, marine and atmosphere the globe abundantly. The prevalence and toxic effects on marine organisms have been studied around the world but the studies are limited to the coastal regime of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). This study aims to record microplastic prevalence on the tourist beaches of Port Blair, ANI. Three coastal stations namely Cove beach, Quarry beach and Wandoor beach were examined in detail in this regard. Microplastics in the form of lines, fragments, pellets, foams and fibres were found at the sampled sites. Wandoor beach recorded the highest microplastic particles ranging from 105-475 particles kg of sediment with the mean value of 249.82 ± 105.78 particles kg. Quarry beach near the municipal waste dumpsite showed the lowest of 72.5-222.5 particles kg with a mean value of 135.625 ± 62.83 particles kg. The polymeric forms found were High-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study revealed microplastic input from municipal dump waste near the beach. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of a new type of polymer namely plasta zinc in the beach sediment, which possibly could be a nanoplastic. Its presence reveals the biological enzymatic degradation of microplastic occurring in the marine environment. Further investigations are required to determine the factors influencing the prevalence of microplastic, its toxic effects on marine habitat and microplastic degradation mechanisms in the marine habitat.
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Occurrence of microplastics on beach sediment at Libong, a pristine island in Andaman Sea, Thailand
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in beach and mudflat sediments at Libong Island, a relatively pristine site in Thailand's Andaman Sea. Despite the island's protected status, microplastics were found throughout, with fibers making up 59% of detected particles, showing that plastic pollution reaches even remote coastal ecosystems.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers found microplastics on beaches of three remote Atlantic islands — Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos, and Trindade — with plastic fragments predominating over fibers, demonstrating that even isolated island beaches far from population centers accumulate ocean plastic debris.
Occurrence, distribution and composition of microplastics in the sediments of South Andaman beaches
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Microplastics were found at all eight sampling stations on beaches of the South Andaman Islands, India, with an average of 414 particles per kilogram of sediment and 13 polymer types identified. Poor solid waste management, tourism, and maritime activity were identified as the main sources.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers sampled microplastics on beaches of three remote Brazilian oceanic islands in the western tropical Atlantic and found particles on two of the three islands, with fragments being the most common type. The presence of microplastics even on these isolated islands confirms that ocean currents carry plastic contamination far from coastal population centers.
Distribution and types of microplastics on the coast of Aipiri and Andai Beaches, Manokwari District, Indonesia
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Researchers surveyed two beaches in Manokwari District, Indonesia, finding microplastics distributed across both sites with fragments and films as the dominant types, raising concern about plastic pollution entering coastal marine ecosystems in this biodiversity-rich region.
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