Identification and Microscopic Classification of Microplastics in Beach Sediment Sample at Dadar Chowpatty

Authors

  • Pranoti C Joshi PRACHINMAY, Sustainable Tourism & Sustainability Services, Thane – 421204 Author
  • Chinmay Khanolkar PRACHINMAY, Sustainable Tourism & Sustainability Services, Thane – 421204 Author
  • Archana Sharma K J Somaiya College of Engineering Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70130/CAST.2024.7109

Keywords:

microplastics, sediments, pollutants, Chemical pollutants,, nonbiodegradable

Abstract

The current study involves the design of a feasible solution for cleaning beach sediments off microplastics. The results of this study will help spread awareness about this micro-menace threatening our societies. It also focuses on otherwise neglected and invisible aspects of plastic pollution. These findings may open up new avenues for research in this area. The long-term impacts of this study may involve the conservation of food quality in fisheries and ecosystems along the coast of Mumbai. During sampling, it was observed that the Dadar Beach was relatively less polluted or disturbed. Albeit having a beach that looks clean and does not look like has a plastic pollution issue, the study results clearly indicate exactly the opposite. The results show that various microplastic particles were identified across the length of the beach and that transect 1, which is shielded by rock reclamation debris, is less affected by active wave action and shows a lower density of microplastics than transect 2, which is readily subjected to active wave action. Based on the major microplastics found in sand, the presence of filaments and disintegration in large quantities, along with foam, can be attributed to fishing activities occurring in nearby oceans, along with some washed off disintegrated plastics whose source cannot be identified.

Author Biography

  • Chinmay Khanolkar, PRACHINMAY, Sustainable Tourism & Sustainability Services, Thane – 421204

    Dr. Chinmay Khanolkar is an avid environmental educator and a visionary with over a decade of experience in the fields of environmental management, sustainability, and education. He has a doctorate degree in the field of environmental economics. His expertise involves environmental innovations, designing learner-centric experiential learning modules, and working with open society groups for awareness campaigns. Apart from his corporate project experience, he has been actively working in the fields of urban biodiversity management with the government and has been instrumental in channeling youth towards the environment with the help of sustainable trekking and tourism and motivational talks and workshops.

References

Andrady, A. L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(8), 1596–1605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.05.030

Barnes, D. K. A., Galgani, F., Thompson, R. C., & Barlaz, M. (2009). Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 1985–1998. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0205

Browne, M. A., Galloway, T., & Thompson, R. (2007). Microplastic–an emerging contaminant of potential concern? Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 3(4), 559–561. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.5630030412

Chatterjee, B. (2018, December 28). Fishing areas off Mumbai have highest plastic waste concentration. Hindusthan times.

Chen, Y., Awasthi, A. K., Wei, F., Tan, Q., & Li, J. (2021). Single-use plastics: Production, usage, disposal, and adverse impacts. The Science of the Total Environment, 752, 141772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141772

Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Halsband, C., & Galloway, T. S. (2011). Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(12), 2588–2597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.09.025

K Davis, E., & Raja, S. (2020). Sources and impact of microplastic pollution in Indian aquatic ecosystem: A review. Current World Environment, Special Issue(1). doi:10.12944/cwe.15.special-issue1.01

Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7), e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782

Gibb, B. C. (2019). Plastics are forever. Nature Chemistry, 11(5), 394–395. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-019-0260-7

Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R., & Law, K. L. (2015). Marine pollution. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768–771. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260352

Gohla, J., Bračun, S., Gretschel, G., Koblmüller, S., Wagner, M., & Pacher, C. (2021). Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) - A cheap, non-toxic and high-density floating solution for microplastic isolation from beach sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 170(112618), 112618. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112618

Masura, J., et al. (2015) Laboratory methods for the analysis of microplastics in the marine environment: recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments. Siver Spring, MD, NOAA Marine Debris Division, 31pp. (NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-48). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25607/OBP-604

Miller, M. E., Kroon, F. J., & Motti, C. A. (2017). Recovering microplastics from marine samples: A review of current practices. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 123(1–2), 6–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.058

Morgana, S., Casentini, B., & Amalfitano, S. (2021). Uncovering the release of micro/nanoplastics from disposable face masks at times of COVID-19. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 419, 126507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126507

Naidoo, T., Rajkaran, A., & Sershen, . (2020). Impacts of plastic debris on biota and implications for human health: A South African perspective. South African Journal of Science, 116(5/6), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/7693

Ramaswamy, E. V. (2016). Micro plastics: An emerging contaminant-with potential threat to aquatic systems-less studied in India: Conference on conservation and sustainable management of ecologically sensitive regions in Western Ghats. Karnataka. Lake.

Rocha, A. (2018). Guidelines for sampling micro plastics on sandy beaches. A Rocha International.

Veerasingam, S; Saha, M.; Suneel, V.; and Vethamony, P. (2017). Micro plastic pollution: A serious threat to the marine ecosystem. Blue Waters, 18, 6-9..

Schnurr, R. E. J., Alboiu, V., Chaudhary, M., Corbett, R. A., Quanz, M. E., Sankar, K., Srain, H. S., Thavarajah, V., Xanthos, D., & Walker, T. R. (2018). Reducing marine pollution from single-use plastics (SUPs): A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 137, 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.001

Sharma, R. (2019). Experimental methods to analyze micro plastics in beach sediment sample through microscopic examination [Unpublished degree thesis], Material processing technology.

Tokiwa, Y., Calabia, B. P., Ugwu, C. U., & Aiba, S. (2009). Biodegradability of plastics. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 10(9), 3722–3742. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms10093722

Ward, C. P., & Reddy, C. M. (2020). Opinion: We need better data about the environmental persistence of plastic goods. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(26), 14618–14621. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2008009117

Willis, K. A., Eriksen, R., Wilcox, C., & Hardesty, B. D. (2017). Microplastic distribution at different sediment depths in an urban estuary. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4, 419. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00419

Zhang, K., Hamidian, A. H., Tubić, A., Zhang, Y., Fang, J. K. H., Wu, C., & Lam, P. K. S. (2021). Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: A review. Environmental Pollution, 274, 116554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116554

Published

2024-06-22

How to Cite

Joshi, P. C., Khanolkar, C. ., & Sharma, A. (2024). Identification and Microscopic Classification of Microplastics in Beach Sediment Sample at Dadar Chowpatty. Contemporary Advances in Science and Technology, 7, 117-134. https://doi.org/10.70130/CAST.2024.7109