Abstract:
Microplastic pollution is an environmental problem worldwide, which concerns over the negative impacts of microplastics particularly on marine ecosystem and human health. However, the occurrence of microplastics in marine environment remains largely unknown, especially in dynamics of river estuarine sediments. The present study was aimed to analyze contamination and characterization of microplastics in different sediments of the The Mae Klong, Tha Chin, Chao Phraya and Bangpakong river estuaries of the inner Gulf of Thailand. The results showed that Mae Klong, Tha Chin, Chao Phraya and Bangpakong river estuaries were found total microplastic concentration ranges from 981 to 11,920 pieces/kg dry SDW or 18.06 to 78.83 mg/kg dry SDW. The most dominant size of microplastics was 300-100 μm in the Tha Chin, Chao Phraya and Bangpakong river estuaries while the Mae Klong river estuaries were found with size 1000-300 μm. While, the most commonly microplastic shapes and colors in river estuaries was fragment (66%) and brown (43%). This study, to be used as a database in order to develop a plastic waste management and environmental policies in Thailand. Moreover, this study reveals the abundance, spatial distribution patterns, and characteristics of microplastic pollutants in river estuarine sediments, and provides systematic data for further research on microplastics in estuarine environments worldwide.
