The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea,

Geoderma,
Volume 322,
2018,
Pages 201-208,
ISSN 0016-7061,

Abstract:

Microplastics (<5 mm) are considered to be emerging pollutants
of global concern. Investigations on microplastics pollution in coastal
and marine environments have increased recently but knowledge gaps still
exist regarding microplastics in coastal beach soils with high-intensity
human activities. In the present study a total of 120 soil samples were
taken from 53 sites along >3000 km of coastline in Shandong province,
east China, adjacent to both the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea coastlines
under different land use management. Microplastics were separated from
the soil samples using a continuous flow and floating separation
apparatus. The shape type, size, abundance, spatial distribution,
polymer composition and surface morphology of the microplastics were
identified by a range of advanced microscopic and micro-analytical
methods. The analytical results show that seven shape types, namely
foams, pellets, fragments, flakes, fibers, films and sponges, were
present in the beach soils. The polymer composition of the microplastics
included polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyether urethane
and a polymer blend of both polyethylene and polypropylene.
Approximately 60% of the observed microplastics had a size range < 1 mm.
Microplastic abundance varied greatly among the soils, ranging from 1.3
to 14,712.5 N kg−1 (dry weight) as influenced by high-intensity human
activities such as mariculture, tourism, and port construction. The
seven shape types of microplastics from the coastal environment had
different weathering surface morphologies, showing scratches, creases,
micropores, cracks, either concave or convex, and of various shapes and
sizes, possibly due to physical friction, photochemical oxidation and/or
animal attack. Algae or crude oil was observed on the surface of some
microplastics. The weathered surfaces of microplastics might act as a
high-capacity carrier with adhering microorganisms and chemicals.
Further studies are required on the weathering processes, sorption
capacity and transport of microplastics especially in smaller size
(<1 mm) under coastal conditions.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=131wx-tA08xrjZVl5nZZWTV34jpwqsOMW
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.02.015.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611732150X)

The post The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Microplastics in surface waters of Dongting Lake and Hong Lake, China,

Science of The Total Environment,
Volume 633,
2018,
Pages 539-545,
ISSN 0048-9697,

Abstract:

Microplastics pollution is an environmental issue of
increasing concern. Much work has been done on the microplastics
pollution in the marine environments. Although freshwaters are potential
sources and transport pathways of plastic debris to the oceans, there is
a lack of knowledge regarding the presence of microplastics in
freshwater systems, especially in China, the world’s largest producer of
plastics. This study investigated the occurrence and properties of
microplastics in surface waters of two important lakes in the middle
reaches of the Yangtze River. The concentration ranges of microplastics
in Dongting Lake and Hong Lake were 900–2800 and 1250–4650n/m3,
respectively. Fiber was the dominant shape. Colored items occupied the
majority. Particles with a size of <330μm comprised >20% of total
microplastics collected in both lakes. Most of the selected particles
were identified as plastics, with polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene
(PP) being the major components. This study can provide valuable
reference for better understanding the microplastics pollution in inland
freshwater ecosystems.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ktnqBMVIrr6nBH0Lis6vUtsav4Jy1g6c
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.211.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718309707)

The post Microplastics in surface waters of Dongting Lake and Hong Lake, China appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Available online 6 March 2018, ISSN 0016-7061,

Abstract:

Microplastics (<5 mm) are considered to be emerging pollutants of global
concern. Investigations on microplastics pollution in coastal and marine
environments have increased recently but knowledge gaps still exist
regarding microplastics in coastal beach soils with high-intensity human
activities. In the present study a total of 120 soil samples were taken
from 53 sites along >3000 km of coastline in Shandong province, east
China, adjacent to both the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea coastlines
under different land use management. Microplastics were separated from
the soil samples using a continuous flow and floating separation
apparatus. The shape type, size, abundance, spatial distribution,
polymer composition and surface morphology of the microplastics were
identified by a range of advanced microscopic and micro-analytical
methods. The analytical results show that seven shape types, namely
foams, pellets, fragments, flakes, fibers, films and sponges, were
present in the beach soils. The polymer composition of the microplastics
included polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyether urethane
and a polymer blend of both polyethylene and polypropylene.
Approximately 60% of the observed microplastics had a size range < 1 mm.
Microplastic abundance varied greatly among the soils, ranging from 1.3
to 14,712.5 N kg−1 (dry weight) as influenced by high-intensity human
activities such as mariculture, tourism, and port construction. The
seven shape types of microplastics from the coastal environment had
different weathering surface morphologies, showing scratches, creases,
micropores, cracks, either concave or convex, and of various shapes and
sizes, possibly due to physical friction, photochemical oxidation and/or
animal attack. Algae or crude oil was observed on the surface of some
microplastics. The weathered surfaces of microplastics might act as a
high-capacity carrier with adhering microorganisms and chemicals.
Further studies are required on the weathering processes, sorption
capacity and transport of microplastics especially in smaller size
(<1 mm) under coastal conditions.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=131wx-tA08xrjZVl5nZZWTV34jpwqsOMW

The post The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, Geoderma appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Marine litter at the seafloor – Abundance and composition in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin,
Volume 127, 2018, Pages 774-780, ISSN 0025-326X,

Abstract:

Litter is present in all marine waters around the globe. It consists of several compound classes of which plastic is of special
interest because of its high abundance and possible threat to marine organisms.

The regional distribution, composition and abundance of large litter items (LI) at the sea floor of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
were investigated based on 175 bottom trawls between 2013 and 2015.
Different types of marine litter >2.5cm were classified according to the protocol of the ICES International Bottom Trawl Survey. The results
showed considerable geographical variation:

In the North Sea, a mean litter abundance of 16.8LI/km2 was found, whereas the litter abundance in the Baltic Sea was significantly lower (5.07LI/km2). In general, plastic represented 80% of the litter items. During the study, some methodical aspects with possible impact on the results were identified that need to be addressed in future sampling campaigns.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.051.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17307865)

The post Marine litter at the seafloor – Abundance and composition in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea,

Geoderma, Available online 6 March 2018, ISSN 0016-7061,

Abstract:

Microplastics (<5 mm) are considered to be emerging pollutants of global concern. Investigations on microplastics pollution in coastal and marine environments have increased recently but knowledge gaps still exist regarding microplastics in coastal beach soils with high-intensity human activities.
In the present study a total of 120 soil samples were taken from 53 sites along >3000 km of coastline in Shandong province, east
China, adjacent to both the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea coastlines under different land use management. Microplastics were separated from the soil samples using a continuous flow and floating separation apparatus. The shape type, size, abundance, spatial distribution,
polymer composition and surface morphology of the microplastics were identified by a range of advanced microscopic and micro-analytical
methods.
The analytical results show that seven shape types, namely foams, pellets, fragments, flakes, fibers, films and sponges, were
present in the beach soils. The polymer composition of the microplastics included polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyether urethane and a polymer blend of both polyethylene and polypropylene.
Approximately 60% of the observed microplastics had a size range < 1 mm. Microplastic abundance varied greatly among the soils, ranging from 1.3 to 14,712.5 N kg−1 (dry weight) as influenced by high-intensity human activities such as mariculture, tourism, and port construction.

The seven shape types of microplastics from the coastal environment had different weathering surface morphologies, showing scratches, creases, micropores, cracks, either concave or convex, and of various shapes and sizes, possibly due to physical friction, photochemical oxidation and/or animal attack. Algae or crude oil was observed on the surface of some microplastics. The weathered surfaces of microplastics might act as a high-capacity carrier with adhering microorganisms and chemicals.
Further studies are required on the weathering processes, sorption capacity and transport of microplastics especially in smaller size
(<1 mm) under coastal conditions.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.02.015.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611732150X)

The post The distribution and morphology of microplastics in coastal soils adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..