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Microplastics in seawater and two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Reflection of the social-economic development
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in surface seawater and coastal sediments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, finding differences in contamination levels that reflected contrasting levels of industrialization and urban development on the Chinese mainland versus Taiwan sides.
Microplastic abundance, distribution and source characteristics were investigated for the surface seawaters from the Taiwan Strait as well as those of sediments along its west and east coasts. The microplastic abundances were in the range of 28-208 (mean 90) and 10-246 (mean 69) items/kg (d.w.) along the west and east coasts respectively. The higher microplastic abundance on the west coast might be related to the different local economic development, population, land-use and other human activities. Combined with microplastic pollution and socio-economic development, regression analysis results showed that urbanization level is negatively correlated with foams while positively correlated with fibers. This study, as the first report of microplastics in the Taiwan Strait, suggested further research on microplastics cross-strait transportation and the relationship with economic developments.
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Microplastics in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent sea: Spatial variations and lateral transport
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Researchers sampled microplastics from both surface water and seafloor sediments across the Taiwan Strait and surrounding seas, finding average concentrations of 174 particles per cubic meter in water and 121 particles per kilogram in sediment. Polyester and rayon fibers dominated, pointing to domestic wastewater and the synthetic textile industry as primary sources. The study helps map microplastic distribution in a heavily trafficked and economically important sea corridor, where currents spread contamination across national boundaries.
Two-dimensional distribution and abundance of micro- and mesoplastic pollution in the surface sediment of Xialiao Beach, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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Researchers systematically mapped microplastic and mesoplastic pollution across Xialiao Beach in Taiwan, recovering 1,939 particles from 80 samples and finding that the backshore contained significantly more plastic than intertidal zones, with extrapolation suggesting approximately 6.8 million particles (≥1 mm) across the beach surface.
Microplastic in tropical island estuaries in China: Source identification and management framework development
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Researchers found surprisingly higher microplastic concentrations in the less-urbanized Wanquan River Estuary compared to the Nandu River Estuary in Hainan Island, China, suggesting that tourism and agricultural activities may contribute more significantly to microplastic pollution than urbanization alone.
Microplastics Pollution and Their Potential Impact in Marine Systems: A Case Study in Shandong Peninsula, China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in marine environments around China's Shandong Peninsula, documenting contamination levels and potential impacts on the region's important fishing, aquaculture, and tourism industries.
Microplastic pollution in Chinese bays: Sampling method comparisons, key drivers, and economic influence
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Researchers compiled microplastic data from over 300 sampling stations across 13 bays in China and compared three different water sampling methods. They found that microplastic distribution was heterogeneous across bays and that sampling method significantly affected measured abundance, though not the types of polymers detected. The study also found a positive correlation between regional economic development and microplastic pollution levels, suggesting that human activity intensity is a key driver of coastal contamination.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.