A comprehensive evaluation of microplastic pollution in the Xiangshan Bay of China with special reference to seasonal variation

Qikun Yang; Youji Wang; Lukuo Ma; Siyang Chen; Jiangning Zeng; Han Dong; Hailing Yang; Hua Bai; Ruijuan Liu; Wei Huang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162350

A comprehensive evaluation of microplastic pollution in the Xiangshan Bay of China with special reference to seasonal variation

Sci Total Environ. 2023 May 15:873:162350. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162350. Epub 2023 Feb 22.

Authors

Qikun Yang¹, Youji Wang², Lukuo Ma¹, Siyang Chen³, Jiangning Zeng⁴, Han Dong¹, Hailing Yang¹, Hua Bai¹, Ruijuan Liu³, Wei Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China.
² International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: youjiwang2@gmail.com.
³ Zhejiang Ocean Monitoring and Forecasting Center, Hangzhou 310007, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, Zhejiang, China; School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200230, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Key Laboratory of Nearshore Engineering Environment and Ecological Security of Zhejiang Province, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China; Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, Zhejiang, China; School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200230, China. Electronic address: willhuang@sio.org.cn.

PMID: 36822424
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162350

Abstract

Marine microplastic (MP) pollution has drawn global attention due to its potential risk to ecosystem. In the present study, we investigated MP pollution in surface water and sediment of a semi-closed bay: the Xiangshan Bay in the East China Sea in spring and summer. The results showed that MP abundance in surface water increased significantly in summer than spring (0.233 and 0.036 item/m³, respectively), while MP abundance in sediment was relatively steady. Meanwhile, the smaller size MPs (diameter < 1000 μm) and land-input fragment-shaped and film-shaped PP and PE increased in surface water in summer compared to spring. Surface microstructure of MPs showed that there were more cracks on MPs in summer comparing to spring. Based on diversity index, MP pollution in the Xiangshan Bay was at a low level and the composition was relatively uncomplicated. The source tracing analysis indicated main contributor of MPs were different in two seasons: textile industry was the dominate source of MPs in spring while fishery production were the dominate source in summer. Our results indicate that the pollution source of MPs could be various in different seasons due to the different climate and human activities, and provide a reference in the prevention and control of MP pollution in semi-closed bay ecosystems.

Keywords: Diversity index; Microplastics; Seasonal variation; Semi-closed bay; Source tracing.