Spatial distribution, morphology, and risk assessment of microplastics in sediment from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Kaiqiang Xu; Asfandyar Shahab; Jörg Rinklebe; He Xiao; Jieyue Li; Feng Ye; Yanhong Li; Dunqiu Wang; Michael S. Bank; Gangjian Wei

Emerging Contaminants (Sep 2024)

Spatial distribution, morphology, and risk assessment of microplastics in sediment from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Kaiqiang Xu,
Asfandyar Shahab,
Jörg Rinklebe,
He Xiao,
Jieyue Li,
Feng Ye,
Yanhong Li,
Dunqiu Wang,
Michael S. Bank,
Gangjian Wei

Affiliations

Kaiqiang Xu: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
Asfandyar Shahab: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
Jörg Rinklebe: University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water-and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany
He Xiao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Corresponding author. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
Jieyue Li: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
Feng Ye: Institute of Marine Research, 5817, Bergen, Norway
Yanhong Li: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
Dunqiu Wang: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin, 541004, China; Corresponding author. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China.
Michael S. Bank: Institute of Marine Research, 5817, Bergen, Norway; University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
Gangjian Wei: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 3
p. 100383

Abstract

Read online

Microplastics (MPs) (64.12 %) of detected MPs were <0.85 mm and primarily consisted of pellets (36.84 %) and fragments (29.65 %). Three polymer types of MPs were identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) including polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP). Polyurethane (PU) sponge was reported for the first time in this study area. Observations of the surface morphology of typical MPs using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that all MPs exhibited varying degrees of erosion, characterized by cracks, folds, and bumpy structures. Based on type and quantity of MPs and the polymers identified, we assessed and classified the risk of MP contamination in PRE sediment as category III, indicating severe ecosystem contamination. Our results may serve as an effective model for other estuaries facing similar pollution regimes and provides valuable information for marine sediment risk assessment.

Published in Emerging Contaminants

ISSN: 2405-6650 (Print)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/emerging-contaminants/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords