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Microplastic pollution in the marine waters and sediments of Hong Kong

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2016 355 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.

Chu Wa Mak, Y.Y. Tsang, Y.Y. Tsang, Chu Wa Mak, Chu Wa Mak, Chu Wa Mak, Chu Wa Mak, Chu Wa Mak, Chu Wa Mak, Chu Wa Mak, King Ming Chan C. Liebich, C. Liebich, C. Liebich, C. Liebich, King Ming Chan Sai-Wo Lam, Sai-Wo Lam, Sai-Wo Lam, Sai-Wo Lam, E. T-P. Sze, King Ming Chan E. T-P. Sze, King Ming Chan King Ming Chan

Summary

Seasonal surveys of surface water and sediments across four coastal locations in Hong Kong found microplastics at all sites, with the highest concentrations in the most urbanized harbor areas. This first comprehensive study of Hong Kong coastal waters reveals that even heavily trafficked port environments accumulate large quantities of microplastic pollution.

Polymers

HDPE LDPE PE PP

The presence of plastic waste with a diameter of less than 5mm ("microplastics") in marine environments has prompted increasing concern in recent years, both locally and globally. We conducted seasonal surveys of microplastic pollution in the surface waters and sediments from Deep Bay, Tolo Harbor, Tsing Yi, and Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong between June 2015 and March 2016. The average concentrations of microplastics in local coastal waters and sediments respectively ranged from 51 to 27,909particles per 100m and 49 to 279particles per kilogram. Microplastics of different shapes (mainly fragments, lines, fibers, and pellets) were identified as polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, a blend of polypropylene and ethylene propylene, and styrene acrylonitrile by means of Attenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. This is the first comprehensive study to assess the spatial and temporal variations of microplastic pollution in Hong Kong coastal regions.

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