Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates
Microplastics pollution in oyster bed ecosystems was investigated in this study. Microplastics in both sediments and oysters from five sites collected along the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oyster bed ecosystem were assessed for abundance, as well as shape, size, color, and composition. T...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Environmental Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765722000497 |
| _version_ | 1818211738617643008 |
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| author | Meera Al Hammadi Sandra Knuteson Sofian Kanan Fatin Samara |
| author_facet | Meera Al Hammadi Sandra Knuteson Sofian Kanan Fatin Samara |
| author_sort | Meera Al Hammadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics pollution in oyster bed ecosystems was investigated in this study. Microplastics in both sediments and oysters from five sites collected along the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oyster bed ecosystem were assessed for abundance, as well as shape, size, color, and composition. The mean abundance in the sediment samples was 191.7 ± 95.5 MP/Kg of d.w., while the mean abundance in the oyster samples was 101.2 ± 93.8 MP/Kg of sample. In general, 100% of the sediment samples and 51% of the oysters showed the presence of microplastics, yet no correlation patterns between sediment and oysters were seen in the abundance of microplastics. The major shape of microplastics found in all the samples were fibers, accounting for 93 % in all the sites; while the most occurring color was black, accounting for 53% in both the sediment and oyster samples. The most dominant size range was 1.0-2.0mm, which accounted for 34% in both the sediment and oyster samples. This is the first study in the region investigating the presence of microplastics in oyster beds. Considering the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the sediments of the oyster beds in this study, their sources should be investigated and managed further as they can pose a potential threat to the marine ecosystem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:37:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e855eb1cff54991965ba4d7489b8664 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-7657 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:37:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Advances |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e855eb1cff54991965ba4d7489b86642022-12-22T00:36:05ZengElsevierEnvironmental Advances2666-76572022-07-018100214Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab EmiratesMeera Al Hammadi0Sandra Knuteson1Sofian Kanan2Fatin Samara3Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesDepartments of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesDepartments of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesCorresponding author.; Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesMicroplastics pollution in oyster bed ecosystems was investigated in this study. Microplastics in both sediments and oysters from five sites collected along the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oyster bed ecosystem were assessed for abundance, as well as shape, size, color, and composition. The mean abundance in the sediment samples was 191.7 ± 95.5 MP/Kg of d.w., while the mean abundance in the oyster samples was 101.2 ± 93.8 MP/Kg of sample. In general, 100% of the sediment samples and 51% of the oysters showed the presence of microplastics, yet no correlation patterns between sediment and oysters were seen in the abundance of microplastics. The major shape of microplastics found in all the samples were fibers, accounting for 93 % in all the sites; while the most occurring color was black, accounting for 53% in both the sediment and oyster samples. The most dominant size range was 1.0-2.0mm, which accounted for 34% in both the sediment and oyster samples. This is the first study in the region investigating the presence of microplastics in oyster beds. Considering the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the sediments of the oyster beds in this study, their sources should be investigated and managed further as they can pose a potential threat to the marine ecosystem.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765722000497Microplastics abundanceOyster bed ecosystemSedimentsArabian GulfOystersATR-FTIR |
| spellingShingle | Meera Al Hammadi Sandra Knuteson Sofian Kanan Fatin Samara Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates Environmental Advances Microplastics abundance Oyster bed ecosystem Sediments Arabian Gulf Oysters ATR-FTIR |
| title | Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full | Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates |
| title_fullStr | Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates |
| title_short | Microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems: An assessment of the northern shores of the United Arab Emirates |
| title_sort | microplastic pollution in oyster bed ecosystems an assessment of the northern shores of the united arab emirates |
| topic | Microplastics abundance Oyster bed ecosystem Sediments Arabian Gulf Oysters ATR-FTIR |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765722000497 |
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