Effects of polypropylene microplastics on carbon dioxide dynamics in intertidal mangrove sediments

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) in soil can influence CO₂ dynamics by altering organic carbon (OC) and microbial composition. Nevertheless, the fluctuation of CO₂ response attributed to MPs in mangrove sediments is unclear. This study explores the impact of micro-sized polypropylene (mPP) particles on the carbon dynamics of intertidal mangrove sediments. In the high-tide level sediment, after 28 days, the cumulative CO₂ levels for varying mPP dosages were as follows: 496.86 ± 2.07, 430.38 ± 3.84 and 447.09 ± 1.72 mg kg^-1 for 0.1%, 1% and 10% (w/w) mPP, respectively. The CO₂ emissions were found to be increased with a 0.1% (w/w) mPP level and decreased with 1% and 10% (w/w) mPP at high-tide level sediment, suggesting a tide level-specific dose dependence of the CO₂ emission pattern in mangrove sediments. Overall, results indicated that the presence of mPP in mangrove sediments would potentially affect intertidal total CO₂ storage under given experimental conditions.

Keywords: CO(2) emissions; Mangrove intertidal zone; Micro-sized polypropylene (mPP); Microbial compositions; Microplastics.