Do microplastic loads reflect the population demographics along the southern African coastline?

Autor: Nel HA; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. Electronic address: hollynel1988@gmail.com., Hean JW; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa., Noundou XS; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa., Froneman PW; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Marine pollution bulletin [Mar Pollut Bull] 2017 Feb 15; Vol. 115 (1-2), pp. 115-119. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Dec 06.
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.056
Abstrakt: Plastic pollution is a major anthropogenic contaminant effecting the marine environment and is often associated with high human population densities and industrial activities. The microplastic (63 to 5000μm) burden of beach sediment and surf-zone water was investigated at selected sites along the entire length of the South African coastline. It was predicted that samples collected in areas of high population density, would contain a higher microplastic burden than those along coasts that demonstrate very low population densities. With the exception of water column microplastics within Richard's Bay Harbour (413.3±77.53particles·m -3 ) and Durban Harbour (1200±133.2particles·m -3 ), there were no significant spatial differences in microplastic loads. This supports the theory that harbours act as a source of microplastics for the surrounding marine environment. Additionally, the absence of any spatial variation highlights the possible long range distribution of microplastic pollutants by large scale ocean currents.
(Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: