Impact of microplastic pollution on coastal ecosystems using comprehensive beach quality indices

Rashid Pervez; Yuansen Lai; Yingjin Song; Xixi Li; Zhongping Lai

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115304

Impact of microplastic pollution on coastal ecosystems using comprehensive beach quality indices

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Sep;194(Pt A):115304. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115304. Epub 2023 Jul 21.

Authors

Rashid Pervez¹, Yuansen Lai², Yingjin Song³, Xixi Li³, Zhongping Lai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China. Electronic address: rashid.pervez@hotmail.com.
² Xi'An Tieyi International Curriculum Center, Xi'An 710054, China.
³ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China.
⁴ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China. Electronic address: zhongping_lai@stu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37481896
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115304

Abstract

Previous studies of Microplastics (Mps) pollution focused on abundance, effect on organisms, and origins. Mps could also be indicators to evaluate pollution level. Beach Quality Indices (BQIs) are useful in understanding Mps pollution level. This study is to assess magnitude, impact and quality of beaches using BQIs, by determining abundance, shape, and size of Mps in beach sediments, which is the first effort in China. Three BQIs, i.e. Microplastic Pollution Index (MPPI), Environmental Status Index (ESI), Coefficient of Microplastic Impact (CMPI), were employed involving Sector Analysis Approach. All beaches had "very high" abundance by MPPI, were classified "bad" by ESI, and fell in "red" sector using Sector Analysis Approach by intergradation of MPPI and ESI. The impact of fiber morphology was "extreme" based on CMPI. The average abundance was 664±80 Mps/kg. Fibers occupied >97 % of Mps, with 31 % of black Mps. A model was proposed to determine Mps origins.

Keywords: Coefficient of Microplastic Impact (CMPI); Environmental Status Index (ESI); Microplastic Pollution Index (MPPI); Microplastics (Mps); Quality of beaches.

MeSH terms

Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments
Microplastics* / analysis
Plastics / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical