We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Occurrence of microplastics on beach sediment at Libong, a pristine island in Andaman Sea, Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Microplastic pollution is a global issue and a hot issue in Thailand. This is the first assessment of microplastics at Libong, a pristine island, located in Andaman Sea. The investigation was carried out by collecting the sediment from beach and mudflat areas of the island in May and July, 2019. Three class sizes of microplastics were determined: greater than 5 mm, 18 pieces; 1-5 mm, 28 pieces; and less than 1 mm, 129 pieces. The total number of microplastics from beach sediment was greater than that from the mudflat sediment. The discovered microplastics were mainly constituted of fibers (59%) and fragments (41%). A great variety of colors were found, and white (43% from beach, 41% from mudflat area) was the most common, followed by blue (9% from beach, 35% from mudflat) and red (12% from beach, 6% from mudflat). Polymers identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer consisted of poly vinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), Nylon, Polyethylene (PE), Polyester, Polyacrylate (PA) and polymer with a structure similar to EPDM rubber.
More Papers Like This
A baseline study of meso and microplastic predominance in pristine beach sediment of the Indian tropical island ecosystem
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Microplastic pollution in surface seawater and beach sand from the shore of Rayong province, Thailand: Distribution, characterization, and ecological risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in beach sand and seawater along Rayong province, Thailand, finding average concentrations of 339 particles per kilogram in sand and 1,781 particles per cubic meter in seawater, with polyethylene as the most common polymer type.
Microplastic accumulation in water from protected areas in Western Forest Complex of Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems within protected areas of Thailand's Western Forest Complex. The study found microplastics present in nearly 99% of water samples, predominantly as fibers, with polyethylene and polypropylene among the most common polymer types, suggesting that even remote protected areas are not immune to microplastic pollution.
Preliminary Study of Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics on Beach Sediment along the Coast of Rayong Province, Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic contamination was found in beach sediment at three sites in Rayong Province, Thailand, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. The study provides baseline contamination data for this East Asian coastal region.
Marine Debris Accumulation on the Beach in Libong, a Small Island in Andaman Sea, Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers cataloged marine debris on beaches of Libong Island, Thailand, collecting samples over four months in 2019. Ceramic and glass debris were most abundant, followed by plastic, with fishing activities and ocean currents identified as the primary sources rather than the island's own population.
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.