Variation in polymer types and abundance of microplastics from two rivers and beaches in Adelaide, South Australia. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hayes, Anna; Kirkbride, K. Paul; Leterme, Sophie C.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 172(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Plastic pollution -- Polymers -- Sediment -- Plastic sources -- Environmental influence; 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.2021.112842
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastics are a major source of marine pollution and comprise of many recyclable polymers. For this study, we investigated the prevalence of microplastic polymers in an urban and non-urban setting and determined what type of plastic polymers was most common in these areas. This was conducted by extracting sediment and sand samples from 2 rivers and beaches in Adelaide, South Australia. The microplastics were extracted using density separation and were identified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. We found a significantly higher abundance of microplastics and variety of polymers in the sediment of the Patawalonga creek, compared to the less urbanised environment. Most of the microplastics found in the study were from recyclable products which highlight the lack of recycling practices undertaken by the inhabitants of that area. Highlights: Microplastics are significantly more abundant in an urbanised environment. A large portion of microplastics are from recyclable plastics. Human influence increases microplastic abundance and diversity. River flow velocity decreases microplastic abundance in river sediment.