Plastic litter pollution along sandy beaches in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sajorne, Recca E.; Bacosa, Hernando P.; Cayabo, Genese Divine B.; Ardines, Lucio B.; Sumeldan, Joel D.C.; Omar, Jhonamie M.; Creencia, Lota A.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 169(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Beach -- Clean-coast index (CCI) -- Macroplastic -- Marine plastic litter -- Nylon -- Palawan; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112520
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Marine plastic litter pollution has become an emerging threat to the Philippines, especially in Palawan. This study was conducted to investigate the macroplastic litter and determine the clean-coast index (CCI) of the residential and non-residential sites on the coasts of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Plastic litters were sampled from 21 coastal barangays by delineating a 50-m-long transect line with three 4 m × 4 m quadrats. The litter sampled were counted and sorted into categories. The results showed that 17 sites were contaminated with plastic litters. In terms of residential and non-residential sites, the east coast has thrice as much plastic, 2.61 items/m 2 and 1.26 items/m 2 compared to west coast with only 1.57 items/m 2 and 0.14 items/m 2, respectively. The plastics sampled were predominantly fishing line (nylon), food packaging, and fragments. The calculated CCI revealed that 76% of the sites sampled were categorized as dirty and extremely dirty. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: First study on marine plastic litter in Palawan, Philippines Sites on the east coast have three times more plastics than the west coast. Collected plastics were mostly fishing line nylon, food packaging and plastic fragments. Seventy six percent of the sites can be categorized as dirty and extremely dirty.