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Synthetic shorelines in New Zealand? Quantification and characterisation of microplastic pollution on Canterbury's coastlines
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Microplastic particles were found on beaches across the Canterbury region of New Zealand, in both urban and non-urban coastal settings including exposed beaches, estuaries, and harbors. The widespread presence of microplastics even at non-urban sites confirms that plastic contamination has spread broadly along New Zealand's coastlines.
ABSTRACT Microplastics are persistent environmental contaminants found in marine environments worldwide. Microplastic particles isolated from coastlines in the Canterbury region of New Zealand were quantified and characterised. Sediment samples were collected from 10 locations representing exposed‐beach, estuarine and harbour environments in both urban and non‐urban settings. Particles were isolated from sediments using an NaCl density‐separation procedure and quantified and characterised with a combination of optical/fluorescence imaging and micro‐Raman spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected at eight out of 10 locations, at concentrations ranging from 0–45.4 particles kg −1 of dry sediment. The majority of microplastics were identified as polystyrene (55%), polyethylene (21%) and polypropylene (11%). Microplastic concentrations in exposed‐beach environments were significantly greater than in harbour and estuarine environments.
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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.