BARC/PUB/2019/0178

 
 

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments

 
     
 
Author(s)

Tiwari, M.; Rathod, T. D.; Ajmal, P. Y.; Bhangare, R. C.; Sahu, S. K.
(EM&AS;HS&EG)

Source

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2019. Vol. 140: pp. 262-273: Article no. 027001

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of microplastic particles were evaluated on beaches along the Indian coast from three different locations Girgaon Mumbai (Arabian sea coast), Tuticorin, and Dhanushkodi (Bay of Bengal coast). Density separation method was adopted for isolation of microplastics from sand. Isolated microplastics were characterized using three different analytical techniques e.g. fluorescence microscopy (after staining with Nile Red), FTIR and SEM-EDS techniques. Microplastic concentrations in beach sands were from 45 ± 12 # MP kg-1 to 220 ± 50 # MP kg-1 of dry sand. The order of abundance of plastic type was polyethylene (43%) > polyethylene terephthalate (17.3%) ≈ polystyrene (17%) > polypropylene (12.3%)> Others (11%)> polyvinylchloride (1.33%), and very similar profile was observed for all monitored locations. SEM images show microplastics surfaces with characteristic cracks, suggests their polymer aging, mechanical and oxidative weathering, which was found highest for the microplastics collected from Mumbai.

 
 
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