A quantitative analysis of microplastic pollution along the south-eastern coastline of South Africa

A quantitative analysis of microplastic pollution along the south-eastern coastline of South Africa

2015

The extent of microplastic pollution (<5mm) in the southern hemisphere, particularly southern Africa, is largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate microplastic pollution along the south-eastern coastline of South Africa, looking at whether bays are characterised by higher microplastic densities than open stretches of coastline in both beach sediment and surf-zone water. Microplastic (mean±standard error) densities in the beach sediment ranged between 688.9±348.2 and 3308±1449particles·m−2, while those in the water column varied between 257.9±53.36 and 1215±276.7particles·m−3. With few exceptions there were no significant spatial patterns in either the sediment or water column microplastic densities; with little differences in density between bays and the open coast (P>0.05). These data indicate that the presence of microplastics were not associated with proximity to land-based sources or population density, but rather is governed by water circulation.

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