Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in sediment at representative dredged material ocean dumping sites, China

Yuying Yi; Lingna Kong; Xiaomeng Wang; Yuxia Li; Jiayi Cheng; Jianbo Han; Hong Chen; Naidong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115201

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in sediment at representative dredged material ocean dumping sites, China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Aug:193:115201. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115201. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Authors

Yuying Yi¹, Lingna Kong², Xiaomeng Wang³, Yuxia Li², Jiayi Cheng², Jianbo Han², Hong Chen², Naidong Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Restoration, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
² State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Restoration, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China.
³ State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Restoration, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian 116023, China. Electronic address: xmwang@nmemc.org.cn.
⁴ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.

PMID: 37385180
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115201

Abstract

Dredged material ocean dumping activities are likely an important source of microplastics (MPs) in coastal areas but have received little attention globally. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal distribution and characteristics of MPs in sediments at eight dredged material dumping sites of China. MPs were separated from sediment through density flotation, and polymer types were identified using μ-FTIR. The results showed that the average MP abundance was 112.82 ± 109.68 items/kg d.w. The MPs were more abundant at nearshore dumping sites than at distant dumping sites. Dumping activities may be the main contributor of MPs to Site BD1, the farthest dumping site from shore, but only a minor source of MPs at the other dumping sites. The characteristics of MPs were dominated by transparent PET fibers <1 mm. Overall, sediments at the dumping sites exhibited relatively low to moderate concentrations of MPs in comparison to most other coastal sediments.

Keywords: Dredged materials; Marine sediment; Microplastics; Ocean dumping site.

MeSH terms

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

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical