Abstract
Microplastic contamination of coastal environments is a global problem and pellets used in industrial processes are a persistent form of microplastic pollution. Regions that host port facilities and industries may be sources of plastic pellets to local and adjacent coastal areas. This study assessed pellet densities over regional and local scales to provide a greater understanding of the spatio-temporal variation in its inputs to sandy beaches. Pellets were used as a proxy to undertake a multi-scale assessment of the spatial (local vs. regional) and temporal (tides and weather) stranding of microplastics. Regional variation was driven by weather (i.e., rainfall) and distance from source. Local-scale variability was driven by distance from source (along shore), tidal cycle, and beach hydrodynamics. Our results address the large spatio-temporal variability in microplastic pollution and provide useful information for monitoring programs by pointing to the need to consider variability in inputs over both regional and local scales.
Highlights
Contamination of coastal environments such as sandy beaches by plastic material is a major environmental problem worldwide (Browne et al, 2015; Jambeck et al, 2015)
We began by investigating variability in the density of stranded plastic pellets at regional scale, among beaches located at different distance from known sources of plastic pellet inputs (Pereira, 2014)
Having investigated variability in pellet inputs at a regional scale, we focused our attention on processes operating at localscale by assessing the influence of along shore position, tidal cycle and hydrodynamic process within Santos Bay itself (Figure 1C)
Summary
Contamination of coastal environments such as sandy beaches by plastic material is a major environmental problem worldwide (Browne et al, 2015; Jambeck et al, 2015). River supplies (Asensio-Montesinos et al, 2019) as well as hydrometeorological features (Cordova and Nurhati, 2019) generate seasonal variability in beach litter. This varibility in beach litter is related to factors such as the proximity to densely populated areas (Browne et al, 2011; Ryan et al, 2018), river-mouth (Williams et al, 2016) and hydrodynamics (Williams et al, 2017). Similar factors are related to the spatial variability of plastic pellets within coastal ecosystems
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
