H.B. Jayasiri, C.S. Purushothaman, A. Vennila, , Marine
Pollution Bulletin, Available online 7 November 2013, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.10.024.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13006450)
Abstract: Plastic litter was quantified on four sandy beaches in Mumbai.
The mean abundance of 7.49 g and 68.83 items per square metre was
recorded. The abundance of plastics significantly varied among the
beaches showing an increasing trend in the southern part. The abundance
of plastics by weight in Dadar was significantly higher than that in
Aksa. The size fractionation of plastics proved that small particles
(1–20 mm) are predominant with 41.85% microplastics (1–5 mm) which
emphasizes the high risk to marine organisms due to possible ingestion.
The highest quantity of microplastics was seen in Juhu beach (55.33%)
followed by Versova, Aksa and Dadar. The major contributing factors for
the abundance are beach usage for different activities such as
recreational, religious and fishing which suggest that the land-based
sources provide major inputs to plastic pollution in these beaches.