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Comparisons of microplastic pollution between mudflats and sandy beaches in Hong Kong

Environmental Pollution 2018 188 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Xiaoyu Xu, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Xiaoyu Xu, Xiaoyu Xu, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Xiaoyu Xu, Xiaoyu Xu, Xiaoyu Xu, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Chun‐Yuen Wong, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Xiaoyu Xu, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Chun‐Yuen Wong, Chun‐Yuen Wong, Chun‐Yuen Wong, Chun‐Yuen Wong, Siu Gin Cheung Chun‐Yuen Wong, Siu Gin Cheung Xiaoyu Xu, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Xiaoyu Xu, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Xiaoyu Xu, Chun‐Yuen Wong, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Chun‐Yuen Wong, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung Xiaoyu Xu, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Hoi‐Shing Lo, Siu Gin Cheung Siu Gin Cheung

Summary

A comparison of microplastic pollution between mudflats and sandy beaches in Hong Kong found higher concentrations and greater diversity of polymer types in mudflat sediments, consistent with their lower-energy, depositional character. The findings suggest that low-energy coastal habitats like mudflats — which are also biodiversity-rich — may be more heavily impacted by microplastic contamination than sandy beaches.

Polymers

PE PET PP PS

Study Type Environmental

Most of the previous studies of microplastic pollution on coastal habitats focused on high energy beaches although low energy areas such as mudflats are supposed to retain more microplastics, not to mention that mudflats are biologically more diverse. We quantified and characterized microplastics from 10 mudflats and 10 sandy beaches in Hong Kong spanning from the eastern to western waters. Sediment samples were collected at 1.0 m and 1.5 m above chart datum (CD) and at the strandline. Abundance of microplastics ranged between 0.58 and 2116 items kg sediment with that on mudflats being ten times more than on beaches. Polyethylene (46.9%) was the most abundant and followed by polypropylene (13.8%) and polyethylene terephthalate (13.5%). Expanded polystyrene was the most abundant in the strandline samples but not at 1.0 m and 1.5 m above CD. Although previous studies have concluded that the input from Pearl River is a major source of microplastics on Hong Kong shores, this study has demonstrated that the contribution of local pollution sources such as discharge from sewage treatment plants to microplastic pollution should not be neglected.

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