Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments from the Gulf of Thailand

Ying Wang; Xinqing Zou; Cong Peng; Shuqing Qiao; Teng Wang; Wenwen Yu; Somkiat Khokiattiwong; Narumol Kornkanitnan

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110916

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments from the Gulf of Thailand

Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Mar:152:110916. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110916. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Authors

Ying Wang¹, Xinqing Zou², Cong Peng³, Shuqing Qiao⁴, Teng Wang⁵, Wenwen Yu⁶, Somkiat Khokiattiwong⁷, Narumol Kornkanitnan⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
² School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Coastal and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China. Electronic address: zouxq@nju.edu.cn.
³ South China Sea Marine Survey and Technology Center, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China; Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China. Electronic address: qiaoshuqing@fio.org.cn.
⁵ College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210023, China.
⁶ Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nantong 226007, China.
⁷ Phuket Marine Biological Center, Phuket 83000, Thailand.
⁸ Marine and Coastal Resource Research Center, Bangkok 74000, Thailand.

PMID: 32479289
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110916

Abstract

This study investigated the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in surface sediments of the Gulf of Thailand (GoT), and discussed the correlation between sediment grain size and microplastic content. The results indicate the abundance of microplastics is 150.4 ± 86.2 pieces/kg dry weight, representing a medium microplastic pollution level compared to other sea areas. Small microplastics (0.5-1 mm) take up >70% of total microplastic numbers. Fibrous microplastics are the dominant component of microplastics. According to micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, rayon (37%) and polyester (PES: 16%) are the most typical polymer types found in sediments. The results imply that secondary microplastics are the dominant pollutant, while fibrous microplastics are mainly from municipal sewage discharge. We also find that inconspicuous correlation between grain size and microplastics, which is caused by the multi-sources and different flow field. This study deepens our understanding of the environmental risks posed by microplastics to marine ecosystems in the GoT.

Keywords: Grain size; Gulf of Thailand; Microplastic; Pollution; Pollution sources; Surface sediments.

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments
Microplastics
Plastics*
Thailand
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical