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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Microplastics in seawater and two sides of the Taiwan Strait: Reflection of the social-economic development

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2021 39 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Qianqian Wu, Qianqian Wu, Siguang Liu, Piao Chen, Mengyang Liu, Sha-Yen Cheng, Hongwei Ke, Peng Huang, Yongcheng Ding, Minggang Cai

Summary

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.

Study Type Environmental

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.

Read via DOI PubMed

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