CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROPLASTICS IN SEDIMENT, SEAWATER AND MARINE INVETEVBRATES FROM URBAN, AQUAFARM AND RURAL AREAS

Abstract

Regional human activity may affect the abundance and contamination characteristics of microplastics in its surrounding environment, which may be reflected to marine species living in its water body, and transfer through their food web. This study investigated the contamination characteristics of microplastics in abiotic matrices such as seawater and sediment, and biotic matrices such as oyster, mussel, and lugworm from urban, aquafarm, and rural areas. In abiotic matrices, different polymeric composition of microplastic was found between 3 regions. High diversity was found in polymer types from urban area, implying diverse sources of microplastics in urban area. Polystyrene is relatively abundant in aquafarm area, reflecting a wide use of expanded polystyrene buoys. In rural area, polypropylene was relatively abundant, probably related with a wide use of PP rope in fisheries. Microplastic compositions in marine invertebrates were follow similar pattern found in abiotic matrices. This result implies that the accumulation profile of microplastics by marine invertebrates reflects well regional human activities. key-word: Microplastic, Ingestion, Invertebrate, Source study investigated the contamination characteristics of microplastics in abiotic matrices such as seawater and sediment, and biotic matrices such as oyster, mussel, and lugworm from urban, aquafarm, and rural areas. In abiotic matrices, different polymeric composition of microplastic was found between 3 regions. High diversity was found in polymer types from urban area, implying diverse sources of microplastics in urban area. Polystyrene is relatively abundant in aquafarm area, reflecting a wide use of expanded polystyrene buoys. In rural area, polypropylene was relatively abundant, probably related with a wide use of PP rope in fisheries. Microplastic compositions in marine invertebrates were follow similar pattern found in abiotic matrices. This result implies that the accumulation profile of microplastics by marine invertebrates reflects well regional human activities. key-word: Microplastic, Ingestion, Invertebrate, Source