Microplastic Variations in Land-Based Sources of Coastal Water Affected by Tropical Typhoon Events in Zhanjiang Bay, China

Abstract

Increasingly serious microplastic pollution in coastal areas and the ecological threats associated with plastics have attracted global attention. The frequency and intensity of typhoons have increased owing to global warming, strongly influencing the distribution and composition of microplastics in coastal ecosystems. In this study, the abundance, composition, diversity, and flux of microplastics in three estuaries and one sewage outlet in Zhanjiang Bay (ZJB) were analyzed. The average abundance of microplastics from land-based sources increased 3.6-fold from 14.19 ± 3.60 items/L before Typhoon Kompasu to 51.19 ± 28.53 items/L after the typhoon (p < 0.05). In addition, the proportion of fiber and large microplastics increased after the typhoon. In all samples, microplastics 100–330 μm in size were predominant, and blue was the most abundant color. The diversity in the color and size of microplastics increased after Typhoon Kompasu. The total daily flux of microplastics at the four stations entering ZJB was 3.95 × 1011 items before the typhoon and 9.93 × 1011 items after the typhoon, showing a 2.5-fold increase. This study demonstrated the influence of Typhoon Kompasu on microplastics from land-based sources of ZJB coastal waters and provided vital data for further study on MP pollution in coastal water ecosystems and the impact of typhoons on microplastics.

Tracing Land-Based Microplastic Sources in Coastal Waters of Zhanjiang Bay, China: Spatiotemporal Pattern, Composition, and Flux

“…Water samples were collected from 12 land-based input stations for three field surveys on September 19, 2021; October 30, 2021; and January 1, 2022, representing the wet, normal, and dry seasons, respectively (Zhao et al, 2019). Note that data for four sampling stations (S3, S4, S5, and S9) in the wet season were obtained from Jian et al (2022). All the tools used for this study were cleaned with distilled water prior to sampling.…”

“…The Lvtang River estuary (S5) is surrounded by residential areas, so residents inevitably discharge domestic wastewater into the river or dispose plastic wastes in the river, which undergoes degradation and produces MPs. (Zhang et al, 2019b;Jian et al, 2022).…”

“…On the other hand, the Suixi River Basin was dominated by agricultural land. Because heavy rains in summer and improper disposal of plastic wastes, which got exposed to the environment, broke into MPs, and entered rivers (Zhang et al, 2019b;Jian et al, 2022). Therefore, to improve the water quality in the estuary and along the coast, more attention should be paid to their source areas during the traceability process, and measures should be taken to control the sources of pollution in the Suixi River basin.…”

“…In addition, the sources of MP pollution in the Nanliu River Estuary (S4) were industrial plants in the vicinity. The effluents from these plants contained large amounts of MPs that were discharged into coastal waters (Zhang et al, 2019b;Jian et al, 2022). The MPs in the samples were mainly 100-330 μm, which were typical of MPs from sewage outlets.…”

Characteristics and patterns of marine debris in the Chinese beach-sea continuum

“…Marine debris includes any anthropogenic, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned that ends up in the marine environment (Shevealy et al, 2012;UNEP, 2021). It can be discarded into or carried by wind, storm/ flood events, river or pluvial systems, and by deliberate or accidental disposal into the marine environment (UNEP, 2009;Marin et al, 2019;Jian et al, 2022;Daniel et al, 2022). It is a marker of the Anthropocene and has widespread effect on society and human wellbeing due to the serious threats to the livelihoods of coastal communities as well as to shipping and port operations (UNEP, 2021).…”