Long-term pollution status of microplastics in sediment of a typical mariculture area

Xiaodan Wang; Jianmin Zhao; Shuang Zhao; Xiuling Yan; Shuang Guo; Yongliang Liu; Qing Wang; Jianbai Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117174

Long-term pollution status of microplastics in sediment of a typical mariculture area

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Oct 25;209(Pt A):117174. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117174. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaodan Wang¹, Jianmin Zhao¹, Shuang Zhao², Xiuling Yan³, Shuang Guo¹, Yongliang Liu¹, Qing Wang⁴, Jianbai Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China.
² School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, PR China.
³ Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264200, PR China.
⁴ Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Yantai Marine Economic Research Institute, Yantai 264003, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39461176
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117174

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive in various environmental media, posing a significant global issue. However, long-term data on marine MPs pollution trends are limited. This study investigates sediment samples from six stations in Sishili Bay, Yellow Sea, collected in 2015, 2018, and 2021, an area impacted by industrial, maricultural, and tourism activities. Findings reveal an annual increase in MPs abundance, with mean concentrations of 92.60 ± 23.93 items/kg.dw in 2015, 146.18 ± 14.80 items/kg.dw in 2018, and 203.21 ± 20.31 items/kg.dw in 2021. MPs distribution is spatially uniform, showing no significant seasonal changes, attributed to the bay's semi-enclosed nature. Predominant MPs are fibers (>70 %) and transparent particles (>35 %), with most particles <1000 μm. PET and Rayon are the main polymers identified. The study emphasizes the escalating MPs pollution in the mariculture area, highlighting the urgent need for targeted pollution control and mitigation strategies.

Keywords: Interannual investigation; Mariculture; Microplastics; Sediment.