TY - JOUR
T1 - Microplastics in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent sea
T2 - Spatial variations and lateral transport
AU - Qi, Huaiyuan
AU - Liu, Mengyang
AU - Ye, Jiandong
AU - Wang, Junge
AU - Cui, Yaozong
AU - Zhou, Yang
AU - Chen, Piao
AU - Ke, Hongwei
AU - Wang, Chunhui
AU - Cai, Minggang
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - This study investigates the distribution, structural properties, and potential impacts of oceanic processes on microplastics (MPs) in the Taiwan Strait (TWS) and surrounding seas. With an average of 174 particles/m3, the MP abundance in surface seawater ranged from 84 to 389 particles/m3. MP abundance ranged from 16 to 382 particles/kg in sediments, with a median of 121 particles/kg. Fragment and fiber were the two most frequently detected shapes. These MPs were found to be composed primarily of carbon and oxygen elements at 70–90% levels using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Additionally, several examples had trace levels of metallic components. Black was the color that MPs saw the most often out of all the hues. The two main types of polymers are polyester and rayon, and their production is influenced by home sewage discharge and synthetic fiber production. The main routes of MP transport were land source input, riverine input, and oceanic currents. This study showed that salinity affects the distribution of MPs, with high-salinity seawater serving to saturate their presence. On the other hand, upwelling raises MP concentrations by bringing nutrients from the deep to the surface. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the dilution of the Pearl River plume increases the MP prevalence in the region. The South China Sea Warm Current had the highest lateral MPs transport flux (2.1 × 1014 particles/y), which was followed by the Taiwan Strait Current area (1.0 × 1014 particles/y) and the Guangdong coastal areas (8.6 × 1013 particles/y). In sediments, the MP prevalence was inversely correlated with particle size. Flocculation processes probably made it easier for MPs to travel down the water column and deposit themselves on the aquatic substrate. Although the relationship between MPs, total organic carbon, and total organic nitrogen was not correlated, a favorable trend showed that MPs may discreetly contribute to carbon storage in coastal sediment. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
AB - This study investigates the distribution, structural properties, and potential impacts of oceanic processes on microplastics (MPs) in the Taiwan Strait (TWS) and surrounding seas. With an average of 174 particles/m3, the MP abundance in surface seawater ranged from 84 to 389 particles/m3. MP abundance ranged from 16 to 382 particles/kg in sediments, with a median of 121 particles/kg. Fragment and fiber were the two most frequently detected shapes. These MPs were found to be composed primarily of carbon and oxygen elements at 70–90% levels using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Additionally, several examples had trace levels of metallic components. Black was the color that MPs saw the most often out of all the hues. The two main types of polymers are polyester and rayon, and their production is influenced by home sewage discharge and synthetic fiber production. The main routes of MP transport were land source input, riverine input, and oceanic currents. This study showed that salinity affects the distribution of MPs, with high-salinity seawater serving to saturate their presence. On the other hand, upwelling raises MP concentrations by bringing nutrients from the deep to the surface. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the dilution of the Pearl River plume increases the MP prevalence in the region. The South China Sea Warm Current had the highest lateral MPs transport flux (2.1 × 1014 particles/y), which was followed by the Taiwan Strait Current area (1.0 × 1014 particles/y) and the Guangdong coastal areas (8.6 × 1013 particles/y). In sediments, the MP prevalence was inversely correlated with particle size. Flocculation processes probably made it easier for MPs to travel down the water column and deposit themselves on the aquatic substrate. Although the relationship between MPs, total organic carbon, and total organic nitrogen was not correlated, a favorable trend showed that MPs may discreetly contribute to carbon storage in coastal sediment. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
KW - Lateral transport
KW - Microplastics
KW - Seawater
KW - Sediment
KW - Upwelling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85172917091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85172917091&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106182
DO - 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106182
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
C2 - 37729853
SN - 0141-1136
VL - 191
JO - Marine Environmental Research
JF - Marine Environmental Research
M1 - 106182
ER -
