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Lucie T, Philippe A, Laura DF, Arnaud H, Matthieu W, Julien G, Ika PP. The largest estuary on the planet is not spared from plastic pollution: Case of the St. Lawrence River Estuary. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 206:116780. [PMID: 39083914 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The St. Lawrence River, one of the world's largest estuaries, drains >25 % of the world's freshwater reserves and is affected by various anthropogenic effluents. Although previous studies reported micro- and nanoplastics contamination in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL), this study provides a first evaluation of macroplastic pollution along the north and south shores of the EGSL. Plastic debris categorization was performed according to the OSPAR protocol completed by polymer identification using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The EGSL appeared ubiquitously contaminated by plastic debris, dominated by single-use plastics primarily made of polypropylene (28 %), polyethylene (25 %) and polystyrene (17 %). The EGSL shores exhibited a mean contamination level of 0.17 ± 0.11 items/m2 and distance to Montreal significantly influenced the distribution of plastic debris. This study provides an essential baseline for implementing local waste reduction and management actions in the St. Lawrence watershed to reduce plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toussaint Lucie
- Univ Brest (UBO), IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France; TAKUVIK CNRS/Univ Laval, UMI3376, Québec Océan, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Archambault Philippe
- TAKUVIK CNRS/Univ Laval, UMI3376, Québec Océan, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Del Franco Laura
- TAKUVIK CNRS/Univ Laval, UMI3376, Québec Océan, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Huvet Arnaud
- Univ Brest (UBO), IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Waeles Matthieu
- Univ Brest (UBO), IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Gigault Julien
- TAKUVIK CNRS/Univ Laval, UMI3376, Québec Océan, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Paul-Pont Ika
- Univ Brest (UBO), IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzané, France
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Gunasekaran K, Mghili B, De-la-Torre GE, Sompongchaiyakul P, Rangel-Buitrago N, Wang X, Charoenpong C. First record of plastiglomerates, pyroplastics and plasticrusts along the beaches of Tamilnadu, Southeast coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116594. [PMID: 38875967 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastic litter affects coastal and marine ecosystems globally. This study represents the first record of pyroplastics and plasticrust in the beaches of Tamil Nadu, India. All samples were FTIR spectroscopically examined to confirm the polymer composition of the suspected plastics. The 16 plastic formations were found in TamilNadu, including six plastiglomerates nine pyroplastics and one plasticrust. Five types of polymers (PET, PP, PVC, PA, and PE) were found on the plastic matrices. The study also revealed that pyroplastics and plasticrust formed by degradation of plastics through weathering in the coastal environment. The present study also found that four types of marine fouling organisms such as oyster larvae, bryozoan, barnacle and polychaete worm were encrusted on the two pyroplastics. The emergence of these new forms of plastic raises concerns about their interactions with the environment and biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Gunasekaran
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Penjai Sompongchaiyakul
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programade Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias Basicas, Universidad del Atlantico, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia
| | - Xianfeng Wang
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Chawalit Charoenpong
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Maurya AC, Bhattacharya A, Vij V, Khare SK. Deciphering the seasonal dynamics of microplastic morphotypes and associated co-contaminants along the northwest coast of India. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 354:141690. [PMID: 38484988 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
In the present study, the northwest coast of India, bordering the Arabian Sea, was selected to evaluate the microplastic (MP) abundance. This is the first study to emphasize the effects of different seasons on MP distribution. The collected MPs were dried, segregated, and evaluated based on their morphotype, size, color, and polymer type. A total of 1756.6, 7326.6, and 202 particles/kg of sand were estimated in the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively, with a dominance of polypropylene (PP) type of plastic in the pre-monsoon and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. HDPE and PP collected MPs during the monsoon season were further characterized for associated contaminants. Metal absorbance was detected using SEM-EDX mapping and ICP-MS. The presence of organic compounds (OCs) was analyzed using GC-MS. MPs exhibit distinct associations with metals, among which the HDPE pellet morphotype exhibits a higher range of metal adsorption. Total 61 different OCs were associated with MPs. The HDPE pellets contained the highest amounts of hydrophobic organic compounds. PP pellets were found to contain triglycerides, fatty aldehydes, and alkaloids, along with HOCs. Among morphotypes, pellet forms of MPs were found to adsorb more contaminants. These co-contaminants infiltrate the study area through sewage runoff and shoreline debris deposition, subsequently interacting with MPs. Furthermore, the MP diversity was studied by employing the MP diversity integrated index, which suggests that most of the MP diversity was observed in the pre-monsoon period. The pollution load index employed an MP risk assessment, which presented a low degree of MP contamination. In contrast, the polymer hazard index was calculated as 21650.3 in post-monsoon, placing the area under the extreme danger category. It is evident from the data that the types of MP is more important than their number. Thus, MP morphotypes have importance in the adsorption of co-contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita C Maurya
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi-11016, India
| | - Amrik Bhattacharya
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi-11016, India
| | - Varun Vij
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi-11016, India
| | - Sunil K Khare
- Enzyme and Microbial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi-11016, India.
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Laju RL, Jayanthi M, Jeyasanta KI, Patterson J, Bilgi DS, Sathish N, Edward JKP. Microplastic contamination in Indian rural and urban lacustrine ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165146. [PMID: 37385488 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the microplastics (MPs) pollution of the lacustrine ecosystems of Tamil Nadu, South India. It examines the seasonal distribution, characteristics and morphology of MPs and assesses the risk posed by MPs pollution. MPs abundance in the 39 rural and urban lakes studied varies from 16 ± 2.69 to 118.17 ± 22.17 items/L (water) and 19.50 ± 4.75 to 156.23 ± 36.41 items/kg (sediment). The water and sediment of urban lakes show average MPs abundances of 88.06 items/L and 115.24 items/kg respectively, while the rural lakes exhibit average MPs abundances of 42.98 items/L and 53.29 items/kg. The results demonstrate that study areas with more residential and urban centers with higher population density and larger discharge of sewage have greater MP abundance. Urban zones have greater MP diversity integrated index (MPDII = 0.73) than rural zones (MPDII = 0.59). Fibres are the dominant group and polyethylene and polypropylene are the most commonly found polymers, possibly gaining entry through land-based plastic litter and urban activities in this region. The weathering index values, 50 % of MPs exhibit high degree of oxidation (WI >0.31) with an age of >10 years. SEM-EDAX results reveal that the weathered MPs from urban lakes have a wider variety of metal elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Hg, Pb and Cd) than those from rural lakes (Na, Cl, Si, Mg, Al, Cu). Though PLI shows low risk (<10) in terms of abundance, PHI reflects pollution status III (10-100) and IV (100-1000) in rural areas and IV and V (>1000) in urban areas based on the toxicity score of the polymer. Ecological risk assessment shows minor risks (<150) at present. The assessment indicates the risk posed by the MPs to the lakes studied and emphasizes the necessity for best MP management practices in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Laju
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M Jayanthi
- Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India
| | | | - Jamila Patterson
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Deepak S Bilgi
- Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India
| | - Narmatha Sathish
- Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India
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Kannan G, Mghili B, Di Martino E, Sanchez-Vidal A, Figuerola B. Increasing risk of invasions by organisms on marine debris in the Southeast coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115469. [PMID: 37703630 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasing amount of anthropogenic litter in the marine environment has provided an enormous number of substrates for a wide range of marine organisms, thus serving as a potential vector for the transport of fouling organisms. Here, we examined the fouling organisms on different types of stranded litter (plastic, glass, rubber, foam sponge, cloth, metal and wood) on eight beaches along the southeast coast of India. In total, 17 encrusting species belonging to seven phyla (Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Mollusca, Annelida, Cnidaria, Chlorophyta and Foraminifera) were identified on 367 items, with one invasive species, the mussel Mytella strigata, detected. The most common species associated with marine litter were the cosmopolitan bryozoans Jellyella tuberculata (%O = 31.64 %) and J. eburnea (28.61 %), the barnacle species Lepas anserifera (29.97 %), Amphibalanus amphitrite (22.34 %) and Amphibalanus sp. (14.16 %), and the oyster species Saccostrea cucullata (13.62 %) and Magallana bilineata (5.44 %). We also reported the first records on stranded litter of four species: the gastropod species Pirenella cingulata and Umbonium vestiarium, the foraminiferan Ammonia beccarii, and the oyster M. bilineata. This study is thus the first documentation of marine litter as a vector for species dispersal in India, where the production and consumption of plastic rank among the highest in the world. We also highlight the increasing risk of invasions by non-indigenous organisms attached to debris along the southeast coast of India. Comprehensive monitoring efforts are thus needed to elucidate the type of vectors responsible for the arrival of invasive species in this region. Raising awareness and promoting education are vital components in fostering sustainable solutions to combat plastic pollution in the country and globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunasekaran Kannan
- Centre for Aquaculture, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Emanuela Di Martino
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo - Blindern, P.O. Box 1172, Oslo 0318, Norway
| | - Anna Sanchez-Vidal
- GRC Geociències Marines, Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l'Oceà, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Blanca Figuerola
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
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Kannan G, Mghili B, De-la-Torre GE, Kolandhasamy P, Machendiranathan M, Rajeswari MV, Saravanakumar A. Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by COVID-19 pandemic in Marina Beach, the longest urban beach in Asia: Abundance, distribution, and analytical characterization. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114476. [PMID: 36529014 PMCID: PMC9726691 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has enforced the use of personal protective equipment (PPE, masks and gloves). However, the mismanagement of litter are exacerbating the increasing plastic issue worldwide. In the present study, we sampled discarded PPE in 10 sites along Marina Beach, India. We characterized the litter types by chemical analysis techniques. A total of 1154 COVID-19-associated PPE items were found on Marina beach. The highest number of items were face masks (97.9 %) and the mean PPE density in the sites studied was 4 × 10-3 PPE m-2. The results demonstrate that poor solid waste management and lack of awareness are the main causes of pollution at Marina beach. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that face masks and gloves were principally made of polypropylene and latex, respectively. The FTIR spectra also showed signs of chemical degradation. Our results suggest that plastic pollution is increasing, possibly becoming more impactful to marine biota. Beach management measures were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunasekaran Kannan
- Centre for Aquaculture, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Bilal Mghili
- LESCB, URL-CNRST N 18, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Sciences, Tetouan, Morocco
| | | | - Prabhu Kolandhasamy
- Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620024, India
| | - Mayakrishnan Machendiranathan
- Laboratory for Coastal Ocean Variation and Disaster Prediction, College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Ayyappan Saravanakumar
- Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai 608502, Tamil Nadu, India
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Fadare OO, Akinbile AA, Makinde OW, Ogundele KT, Ajagbe EF, Ilechukwu I. Spatiotemporal variations in marine litter along the Gulf of Guinea coastline, Araromi seaside, Nigeria. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 183:114048. [PMID: 35998524 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed the seasonal variation in the magnitude of marine litter along the Gulf of Guinea coastline, Araromi seaside, Nigeria with a survey of twenty sampling sites. The total number of litter items collected was 29,029 comprising 7358 and 21,671 items in the dry and rainy season respectively. The average number of items per square meter was higher in the rainy season (1.80 ± 0.35) than in the dry season (0.61 ± 0.19). Plastic materials dominated the litter composition with 86 % and 91.8 % in the dry and rainy season respectively. The beach cleanliness assessed as clean coast index (CCI) depicted the beach as dirty (12.26 ± 3.74) during the dry season and extremely dirty (36.13 ± 6.91) in the rainy season. The hazardous item index (HII) also showed the coastline was littered with hazardous items. These results provide baseline data for marine litter management along the Gulf of Guinea coastlines and other coastlines in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluniyi O Fadare
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5892, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA; Microplastics Research Group (MRG), Division of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Center for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220001, Nigeria; Organization of African Academic Doctor (OAAD), Off Kamiti Road, PO Box 25305000100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Adewale A Akinbile
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Dagbolu-Akanran Ibadan Road, Ijebu-Igbo 120105, Nigeria
| | - Oladotun Wasiu Makinde
- Microplastics Research Group (MRG), Division of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Center for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220001, Nigeria
| | - K T Ogundele
- Microplastics Research Group (MRG), Division of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Center for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220001, Nigeria
| | - Eyitayo F Ajagbe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos 101212, Nigeria
| | - Ifenna Ilechukwu
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Department of Marine and Environmental Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan; Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Industrial Chemistry, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria.
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Ansari M, Farzadkia M. Beach debris quantity and composition around the world: A bibliometric and systematic review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113637. [PMID: 35397342 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pollution of marine ecosystems caused by beach debris has become a serious environmental concern in the last few decades. Regarding the raising production of beach debris, the present work aimed to summarize the quantity and quality of beach debris reported from different beach areas of the world. Also, a bibliometric analysis was used to analyze research trends and upgrade knowledge in this research area. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), the eligible papers reviewed regarding beach debris abundance along with their composition from 2010, which were extracted from the Scopus database. The results of the study showed that plastic items represented the dominant material (61.25%), followed by food (5.88%), wood (5.78%), metals (5.2%), and glass (5%). Further, the beaches studied were classified into three degrees, including highly polluted (31.5 items/m2), moderate polluted (3.47 items/m2), and low polluted (0.37 items/m2), based on the average abundance of debris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Ansari
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Farzadkia
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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