Microplastics in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent sea: Spatial variations and lateral transport

Huaiyuan Qi; Mengyang Liu; Jiandong Ye; Junge Wang; Yaozong Cui; Yang Zhou; Piao Chen; Hongwei Ke; Chunhui Wang; Minggang Cai

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106182

Microplastics in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent sea: Spatial variations and lateral transport

Mar Environ Res. 2023 Oct:191:106182. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106182. Epub 2023 Sep 17.

Authors

Huaiyuan Qi¹, Mengyang Liu², Jiandong Ye¹, Junge Wang¹, Yaozong Cui¹, Yang Zhou³, Piao Chen⁴, Hongwei Ke¹, Chunhui Wang¹, Minggang Cai⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, China.
³ College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
⁴ Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; Department of Biological Technology, Xiamen Ocean Vocational College, Xiamen, 361102, China; Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China; College of Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China. Electronic address: mgcai@xmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37729853
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106182

Abstract

This study investigates the distribution, structural properties, and potential impacts of oceanic processes on microplastics (MPs) in the Taiwan Strait (TWS) and surrounding seas. With an average of 174 particles/m³, the MP abundance in surface seawater ranged from 84 to 389 particles/m³. MP abundance ranged from 16 to 382 particles/kg in sediments, with a median of 121 particles/kg. Fragment and fiber were the two most frequently detected shapes. These MPs were found to be composed primarily of carbon and oxygen elements at 70-90% levels using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Additionally, several examples had trace levels of metallic components. Black was the color that MPs saw the most often out of all the hues. The two main types of polymers are polyester and rayon, and their production is influenced by home sewage discharge and synthetic fiber production. The main routes of MP transport were land source input, riverine input, and oceanic currents. This study showed that salinity affects the distribution of MPs, with high-salinity seawater serving to saturate their presence. On the other hand, upwelling raises MP concentrations by bringing nutrients from the deep to the surface. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the dilution of the Pearl River plume increases the MP prevalence in the region. The South China Sea Warm Current had the highest lateral MPs transport flux (2.1 × 10¹⁴ particles/y), which was followed by the Taiwan Strait Current area (1.0 × 10¹⁴ particles/y) and the Guangdong coastal areas (8.6 × 10¹³ particles/y). In sediments, the MP prevalence was inversely correlated with particle size. Flocculation processes probably made it easier for MPs to travel down the water column and deposit themselves on the aquatic substrate. Although the relationship between MPs, total organic carbon, and total organic nitrogen was not correlated, a favorable trend showed that MPs may discreetly contribute to carbon storage in coastal sediment.

Keywords: Lateral transport; Microplastics; Seawater; Sediment; Upwelling.

MeSH terms

Carbon
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Geologic Sediments / chemistry
Microplastics*
Oceans and Seas
Plastics
Taiwan
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Carbon