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Characterization and seasonal distribution of microplastics in the nearshore sediments of the south-east coast of India, Bay of Bengal
Summary
Indian coastal sediment survey finding MP peaks near river mouths during monsoon - 80748 — Spacecraft deployable structure microdynamics (not microplastics-related) - 34291 — AFM study of early-stage polymer wear at nanoscale (MP generation mechanism) - 60453 — New all-glass flotation method for extracting MPs from sediment, 92% recovery - 60446 — Low-cost sediment trap captures ~25% of MPs in flowing water - 60445 — Rural Kansas rivers contain MPs even upstream of urban areas - 60408 — Seabirds transport marine MP fibers to remote atoll soils via guano - 60404 — MPs found in mountain snowpack dust, possibly reducing snowmelt albedo - 60397 — Urban land cover correlates with MP levels in karst groundwater springs - 60376 — Asian clams may biologically indicate seasonal MP variation in freshwater - 60369 — MPs detected inside Mammoth Cave; surface rivers the primary entry vector - 60359 — First evidence of MPs in hailstones, showing atmospheric circulation of plastics - 60284 — Turbulent flow vertical mixing study for MP transport modeling - 60231 — Tire wear optimization method; tire particles are top MP source - 60206 — Rhizobiome microbes may help mitigate plastic pollution in soil - 59687 — Review of microbial plastic degradation capabilities and challenges - 59678 — Review of MP hazards and interactions in soil environments - 59675 — MPs found across cryosphere; ice melt may release stored plastics - 59671 — Review of microbial approaches to degrading macroplastic ocean waste - 59603 — Review of MP detection methods in water samples - 59591 — Particle size and density govern MP vertical mixing in water columns - 59538 — Review calling for standardized MP sampling and analysis protocols - 59513 — Review of micro/nanoplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems - 59468 — Review of MPs in water and removal performance of wastewater treatment plants - 59467 — Review of MP generation, spread, and management strategies - 59464 — Transformer neural network for automated, explainable MP detection in images - 59436 — Review of MP ecotoxicology across aquatic food webs - 59429 — Polymer type analysis of coastal MPs and the "missing plastics" question - 59420 — Pollution baseline assessment for North Evoikos Gulf, Aegean Sea - 59308 — Review of MP research gaps and data needs in South Asia
In view of increasing Microplastics (MPs) contamination in the marine environment and dearth of baseline data, a study was conducted on the abundance, characterization, and seasonal distribution of MPs in the nearshore sediments of the south-east coast of India. Sediment samples (n = 130) were collected at a distance of 1 km and 10 km from the shore region at varying depths (8–45 m) along the Chennai to Puducherry coast (165 km stretch), representing two seasons, i.e., south-west (July 2019 and July 2020) and north-east (January 2020) monsoons. The average abundance of MPs at the 22 offshore sites along the Chennai to Puducherry coast varied from 9±4.3 to 19±12.9 particles/50 g dry weight, in July 2019 and January 2020, respectively. July 2020 had an average abundance of 10±4.5 particles/50 g dry weight. Spatially, high levels of MPs were found at 1km stations and transects in proximity to the river inlets, and temporally, the north-east month recorded the maximum concentration. The dominant morphotype was the filament, and the major polymers were polyethylene and polypropylene. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images revealed the surface irregularity and degradation of MPs due to weathering. The study highlights that high sediment contamination by MPs occurs during heavy rainfall and accumulates closer to river inlets. Eventually, this study suggests that appropriate management of plastic wastes on the landside will reduce MP contamination in the marine environment.