Spatiotemporal trends and characteristics of microplastic contamination in a large river-dominated estuary

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a major global issue that poses serious threats to aquatic organisms. Although research on MP pollution has been extensive, the relationship between MPs and water quality parameters in estuarine water systems is unclear. This work studied the spatiotemporal distributio...

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Published in:Environmental science--processes & impacts 2023-05, Vol.25 (5), p.929-94
Main Authors: Rakib, Md. Refat Jahan, Al Nahian, Sultan, Madadi, Reyhane, Haider, Sayeed Mahmood Belal, De-la-Torre, Gabriel Enrique, Walker, Tony R, Jonathan, M. P, Cowger, Win, Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin, Idris, Abubakr M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic organisms
Cellulose
Contamination
Dissolved oxygen
Dissolved solids
Downstream
Dry season
Ecosystem
Electrical conductivity
Electrical resistivity
Environmental Monitoring
Estuaries
Estuarine ecosystems
Finite element method
Freshwater ecosystems
High temperature
Microplastics
Parameters
pH effects
Plankton
Plastic debris
Plastic pollution
Plastics
Pollution
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polymers
Polypropylene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene resins
Rainy season
Rivers
Seasons
Spatial distribution
Temporal distribution
Total dissolved solids
Water distribution
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water quality
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Summary:Microplastic (MP) pollution is a major global issue that poses serious threats to aquatic organisms. Although research on MP pollution has been extensive, the relationship between MPs and water quality parameters in estuarine water systems is unclear. This work studied the spatiotemporal distribution and characteristics of MPs in the Karnaphuli River estuary, Bangladesh. MP abundance was calculated by towing with a plankton net (300 μm mesh size) at three river gradients (up-, mid- and downstream) and the association between physicochemical parameters of water (temperature, pH, salinity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen) and MP distribution patterns was also investigated. Mean MP abundance in water was higher during the wet season (April) (4.33 ± 2.45 items per m 3 ) compared to the dry season (September) (3.65 ± 2.54 items per m 3 ). In descending order, the highest MP abundance was observed downstream (6.60 items per m 3 ) > midstream (3.15 items per m 3 ) > upstream (2.22 items per m 3 ). pH during the wet season (April) and temperature during the dry season (September) were key physicochemical parameters that correlated with river MP abundance ( r = −0.74 and 0.74 respectively). Indicating that if the Karnaphuli River water has low pH or high temperature, there is likely to be high MPs present in the water. Most MP particles were film-shaped, white in color, and 1-5 mm in size. Of the six polymers detected, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and cellulose were predominant, comprising roughly 17-19% each. These results can be used to model MP transport in the freshwater ecosystem of the Karnaphuli River estuary in Bangladesh to help develop future mitigation strategies. Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and have caused substantial concern worldwide.
ISSN:2050-7887
2050-7895
DOI:10.1039/d3em00014a