Microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Xiamen coastal areas: Implications for anthropogenic impacts

Abstract

Microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated to study the influence of human activities and to find their possible relationship on the coastal environments, where the coastal areas around Xiamen are undergoing intensive processes of industrialization and urbanization in the southeast China. The abundance of microplastics in Xiamen coastal areas was 103 to 2017particles/m in surface seawater and 76 to 333 particles/kg in sediments. Concentrations of dissolved PAHs varied from 18.1 to 248ng/L in surface seawater. The abundances of microplastics from the Western Harbor in surface seawater and sediments were higher than those from other areas. Foams were dominated in surface seawater samples, however, no foams were found in sediments samples. The microscope selection and FTIR analysis suggested that polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were dominant microplastics. The cluster analysis results demonstrated that fibers and granules had the similar sources, and films had considerably correlation with all types of PAHs (3 or 4-ring PAHs and alkylated PAHs). Plastic film mulch from agriculture practice might be a potential source of microplastics in study areas. Results of our study support that river runoff, watershed area, population and urbanization rate influence the distribution of microplastics in estuarine surface water, and the prevalence of microplastic pollution calls for monitoring microplastics at a national scale.

ToF‐SIMS characterization of microplastics in soils

“…In the particle size distribution of microplastics (Figure ), the proportion of microplastics with different particle size ranges in the three samples was in the order of 10 to 15 μm > 20 to 25 μm > 15 to 20 μm > 5 to 10 μm = 0 to 5 μm. With the increase in the particle size, the content of microplastics in the three samples first increased and then decreased, which is inconsistent with the results of most studies involving the increase of microplastic particle size . This may be because the microplastic particle size distribution in other studies is generally larger than 50 μm, while the particle size of microplastics in this study was smaller.…”

“…With the increase in the particle size, the content of microplastics in the three samples first increased and then decreased, which is inconsistent with the results of most studies involving the increase of microplastic particle size. [32][33][34][35][36] This may be because the microplastic particle size distribution in other studies is generally larger than 50 μm, while the particle size of microplastics in this study was smaller. The results indicate that the plastic waste in the soil is under the external influence of high temperature oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, physical erosion, and so on.…”

Pollution Characteristics of Microplastics in Soils in Southeastern Suburbs of Baoding City, China

“…Through decades of agricultural activities, a large number of MPs with smaller particle sizes have accumulated in the region. Plastic products in soil are easier to decompose into MPs with smaller particle size under the effects of agricultural activities, ultraviolet radiation, and microbial decomposition [37][38][39]. However, the MPs at XA2, XA3, XA4, and XA11 were mainly larger than 20 μm.…”

Progress and prospects of marine microplastic research in China

“…Zhou et al (2018) reported microplastic distribution around Shandong Province and revealed the temporal distribution in beach sediments on a regional scale, indicating that the abundance varied among different sites. On a local scale, an investigation on beaches in Xiamen City in southeast China found that on average 76-333 items/kg of sediment (Tang et al 2018), and noted that the compositions of microplastic polymers are different in beach sediments and surface water. A study on microplastics in wind-farm areas in Rudong discovered higher abundance of microplastics compared with those on other beaches and offshore surface waters (Wang et al 2018), and fibre was the majority type.…”