Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province

The beach sediment samples from Kalim, Tri Trang, and Patong Beaches, Phuket Province, southern of Thailand were collected for preliminary investigation on coastal debris. A total of 9 samples were taken from a 1 x 1 m quadrat at the depth of 5 cm, parallel with the shore during the period of maxim...

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Main Authors: Pensiri Akkajit, Sudarat Thongnonghin, Siriporn Sriraksa, Supissara Pumsri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University 2019-07-01
Series:Applied Environmental Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/jer/index.php/aer/article/view/168376
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author Pensiri Akkajit
Sudarat Thongnonghin
Siriporn Sriraksa
Supissara Pumsri
author_facet Pensiri Akkajit
Sudarat Thongnonghin
Siriporn Sriraksa
Supissara Pumsri
author_sort Pensiri Akkajit
collection DOAJ
description The beach sediment samples from Kalim, Tri Trang, and Patong Beaches, Phuket Province, southern of Thailand were collected for preliminary investigation on coastal debris. A total of 9 samples were taken from a 1 x 1 m quadrat at the depth of 5 cm, parallel with the shore during the period of maximum low tides in November, 2018. Microplastics (particles size < 5 mm) were extracted using sodium chloride (1.15 g mL-1) and their characteristics- including abundance (items m-2), weight (g), density (items m-2), color and shape- were determined using a stereo microscope. The results showed that microplastic debris varied in abundance from 1 to 35 items m-2 at the three selected beaches, depending on sampling location. In comparison, abundance of macroplastic (> 2.5 cm) and mesoplastic debris (5 mm to 2.5 cm) varied from 1 item m-2 quadrat (Kalim Beach) to 38 items (Patong Beach), 9 items (Tri Trang Beach) and 68 items (Patong Beach) m-2. Blue fibers were predominant among microplastic debris found at Kalim Beach; these are likely to have originated from pieces of rope, safeguard lines and fishing materials. In contrast, microplastic debris found in Patong and Tri Trang Beaches were predominantly green in color. The results of this study provide an overview of the sources of microplastics in coastal environments, which provides a basis for developing long term plastic management plans for these highly popular beaches in Phuket Province.
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spelling doaj.art-559722971f8142c8bfe9e7392b9327d92024-02-26T10:50:07ZengEnvironmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityApplied Environmental Research2287-075X2019-07-0141210.35762/AER.2019.41.2.5Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket ProvincePensiri Akkajit0Sudarat Thongnonghin1Siriporn Sriraksa2Supissara Pumsri3Faculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, ThailandFaculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, ThailandFaculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, ThailandFaculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand The beach sediment samples from Kalim, Tri Trang, and Patong Beaches, Phuket Province, southern of Thailand were collected for preliminary investigation on coastal debris. A total of 9 samples were taken from a 1 x 1 m quadrat at the depth of 5 cm, parallel with the shore during the period of maximum low tides in November, 2018. Microplastics (particles size < 5 mm) were extracted using sodium chloride (1.15 g mL-1) and their characteristics- including abundance (items m-2), weight (g), density (items m-2), color and shape- were determined using a stereo microscope. The results showed that microplastic debris varied in abundance from 1 to 35 items m-2 at the three selected beaches, depending on sampling location. In comparison, abundance of macroplastic (> 2.5 cm) and mesoplastic debris (5 mm to 2.5 cm) varied from 1 item m-2 quadrat (Kalim Beach) to 38 items (Patong Beach), 9 items (Tri Trang Beach) and 68 items (Patong Beach) m-2. Blue fibers were predominant among microplastic debris found at Kalim Beach; these are likely to have originated from pieces of rope, safeguard lines and fishing materials. In contrast, microplastic debris found in Patong and Tri Trang Beaches were predominantly green in color. The results of this study provide an overview of the sources of microplastics in coastal environments, which provides a basis for developing long term plastic management plans for these highly popular beaches in Phuket Province. https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/jer/index.php/aer/article/view/168376BeachesMicroplasticsPatongPlastic-debrisPhuketSediment
spellingShingle Pensiri Akkajit
Sudarat Thongnonghin
Siriporn Sriraksa
Supissara Pumsri
Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province
Applied Environmental Research
Beaches
Microplastics
Patong
Plastic-debris
Phuket
Sediment
title Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province
title_full Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province
title_fullStr Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province
title_full_unstemmed Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province
title_short Preliminary Study of Distribution and Quantity of Plastic-debris on Beaches Along the Coast at Phuket Province
title_sort preliminary study of distribution and quantity of plastic debris on beaches along the coast at phuket province
topic Beaches
Microplastics
Patong
Plastic-debris
Phuket
Sediment
url https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/jer/index.php/aer/article/view/168376
work_keys_str_mv AT pensiriakkajit preliminarystudyofdistributionandquantityofplasticdebrisonbeachesalongthecoastatphuketprovince
AT sudaratthongnonghin preliminarystudyofdistributionandquantityofplasticdebrisonbeachesalongthecoastatphuketprovince
AT siripornsriraksa preliminarystudyofdistributionandquantityofplasticdebrisonbeachesalongthecoastatphuketprovince
AT supissarapumsri preliminarystudyofdistributionandquantityofplasticdebrisonbeachesalongthecoastatphuketprovince