Abstract
Plastic pollution has been a widespread issue across the world ever since its invention in the early 1900s to its flourishment during the Industrial Revolution. The viciousness of plastics further elevates with the emergence of microplastics with smaller size and larger surface area than larger plastic debris. Smaller plastic particles of micro- and nano-size range are ubiquitous in all environmental compartments and have the potential to penetrate the biological system resulting in bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Evaluation of the presence of microplastics in the water and soil of an area is necessary for the implementation of precautionary and remedial measures. The present study attempts to evaluate the extent of microplastic pollution along the beaches of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. Surface sediment samples were collected from 25 locations across the coastal line of Thiruvananthapuram. Microplastics were quantified and categorized based on their colour, shape, size, and composition. Visual identification and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy were used for the estimation. The result revealed that the majority of plastic particles present were fibres accounting for around 80.80%. The maximum distribution of particles was reported from the sampling location at Thazhampalli-Chirayinkeezhu and Bheemapally. Around 78.05% of particles were coloured while the remaining were either white or colourless. Nylon fibres and polypropylene fragments were the dominant polymer types obtained. The results point to the role of fishing activities as the major source of microplastic input along the coastal beach sediments.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data will be available on request.
References
Andrady, A. L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 1596–1605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.05.030
Andrady, A. L. (2017). The plastic in microplastics: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 119(1), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.082
Arthur, C., Baker, J., & Bamford, H., Eds. (2008). Proceedings of the international research workshop on the occurrence, effects, and fate of microplastic marine debris. Sept 9–11, 2008. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-30. https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/2509/noaa_2509_DS1.pdf.
Ashwini, S. K. & George, K. Varghese (2019). Environmental forensic analysis of the microplastic pollution at “Nattika” Beach, Kerala Coast, India. Environmental Forensics. https://doi.org/10.1080/15275922.2019.1693442.
Auta, H. S., Emenike, C. U., & Fauziah, S. H. (2017). Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions. Environment International, 102, 165–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.02.013
Avio, C. G., Gorbi, S., & Regoli, F. (2017). Plastics and microplastics in the oceans: From emerging pollutants to emerged threat. Marine Environmental Research, 128, 2–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.05.012
Besseling, E., Wang, B., Lürling, M., & Koelmans, A. A. (2014). Nano-plastic affects growth of S. obliquus and reproduction of D. magna. Environment Science Technology, 48(20), 12336–12343. https://doi.org/10.1021/es503001d
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
Carvalho, D., & Baptista Neto, J. A. (2016). Microplastic pollution of the beaches of Guanabara Bay. Southeast Brazil. Ocean Coast Management., 128, 10–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.04.009
Claessens, M., De Meester, S., Van Landuyt, L., De Clerck, K., & Janssen, C. R. (2011). Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in marine sediments along the Belgian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(10), 2199–2204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.06.030
Cooper, D. A., & Corcoran, P. L. (2010). Effects of mechanical and chemical processes on the degradation of plastic beach debris on the island of Kauai. Hawaii. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60, 650–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.12.026
Crawford, C., & Quinn, B. (2016). Microplastic pollutants. Elsevier.
De-la-Torre, G. E. (2020). Microplastics: An emerging threat to food security and human health. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 57(5), 1601–1608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-04138-1
Dowarah, K., & Devipriya, S. P. (2019). Microplastic prevalence in the beaches of Puducherry, India and its correlation with fishing and tourism/recreational activities. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 148, 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.066
Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C. M., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M., Moore, C. J., Borerro, J. C., et al. (2014). Plastic pollution in the World’s oceans: More than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea. PLoS ONE, 9, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111913
Fonte, E., Ferreira, P., & Guilhermino, L. (2016). Temperature rise and microplastics interact with the toxicity of the antibiotic cefalexin to juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps): Post-exposure predatory behaviour, acetylcholinesterase activity and lipid peroxidation. Aquatic Toxicology, 180, 173–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.09.015
Free, C. M., Jensen, O. P., Mason, S. A., Eriksen, M., Williamson, N. J., & Boldgiv, B. (2014). High- levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 85(1), 156–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.001
Frere, L., Paul-Pont, I., Rinnert, E., Petton, S., Jaffré, J., Bihannic, I., & Huvet, A. (2017). Influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the composition, concentration and spatial distribution of microplastics: A case study of the Bay of Brest (Brittany, France). Environmental Pollution, 225, 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.03.023
Fries, E., Dekiff, J. H., Willmeyer, J., Nuelle, M. T., Ebert, M., & Remy, D. (2013). Identification of polymer types and additives in marine microplastic particles using pyrolysis-GC/MS and scanning electron microscopy. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 15(10), 1949–1956. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3em00214d
Gurjar, U. R., Xavier, K. M., Shukla, S. P., Takar, S., Jaiswar, A. K., Deshmukhe, G., & Nayak, B. B. (2023). Seasonal distribution and abundance of microplastics in the coastal sediments of north eastern Arabian Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 187, 114545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114545.
Hidalgo-Ruz, V., Gutow, L., Thompson, R. C., & Thiel, M. (2012). Microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(6), 3060–3075. https://doi.org/10.1021/es2031505
Holmes, L. A., Turner, A., & Thompson, R. C. (2014). Interactions between trace metals and plastic production pellets under estuarine conditions. Marine Chemistry, 167, 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2014.06.001
Jabeen, K., Su, L., Li, J., Yang, D., Tong, C., Mu, J., & Shi, H. (2017). Microplastics and mesoplastics in fish from coastal and fresh waters of China. Environmental Pollution, 221, 141–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.11.055
Jeyasanta, K. I., Sathish, N., Patterson, J., & Edward, J. P. (2020). Macro-, meso-and microplastic debris in the beaches of Tuticorin district, Southeast coast of India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 154, 111055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111055.
Kaladharan, P., Vijayakumaran, K., Singh, V. V., Prema, D., Asha, P. S., Sulochanan, B., Hemasankari, P., Edward, L. L., Padua, S., Veena, S., Anasukoya, A., & Bhint, H. M. (2017). Prevalence of marine litter along the Indian beaches: A preliminary account on its status and composition. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India,59, 19–24. https://doi.org/10.6024/jmbai.2017.59.1.1953-03
Kershaw, P.J., Turra, A., & Galgani, F. (2019). Guidelines for the monitoring and assessment of plastic litter and microplastics in the ocean. http://www.gesamp.org/publications/guidelines-for-the-monitoring-and-assessment-of-plastic-litter-in-the-ocean.
Krishnakumar, S., Anbalagan, S., Kasilingam, K., Smrithi, P., Anbazhagi, S., & Srinivasalu, S. (2020). Assessment of plastic debris in remote islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago, India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 151, 110841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110841
Kumar, A. S., & Varghese, G. K. (2021). Microplastic pollution of Calicut beach-contributing factors and possible impacts. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 169, 112492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112492
Luís, L. G., Ferreira, P., Fonte, E., Oliveira, M., & Guilhermino, L. (2015). Does the presence of microplastics influence the acute toxicity of chromium (VI) to early juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps)? A study with juveniles from two wild estuarine populations. Aquatic Toxicology, 164, 163–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2015.04.018
Mandal, A., Singh, N., Mondal, A., Talib, M., Basu, R., Biswas, M. K., & Darbha, G. K. (2023). The extent of microplastic pollution along the eastern coast of India: Focussing on marine waters, beach sand, and fish. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 194, 115265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115265
Mausra. B., & Foster, A. (2015). Laboratory methods for the analysis of microplastics in the marine environment: Recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments. NOAA. https://media.iode.org/handle/11329/1076.
Mohan, P. M., Tiwari, S., Karuvelan, M., Malairajan, S., Mageswaran, T., & Sachithanandam, V. (2022). A baseline study of meso and microplastic predominance in pristine beach sediment of the Indian tropical island ecosystem. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 181, 113825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113825
Murphy, J. (2001). Additives for plastics handbook, 2nd edn. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-1-85617-370-4.x5000-3
Nguyen, B., Claveau-Mallet, D., Hernandez, L. M., Xu, E. G., Farner, J. M., & Tufenkji, N. (2019). Separation and analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics in complex environmental samples. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(4), 858–866. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.8b00602
Nuelle, M., Dekiff, J. H., Remy, D., & Fries, E. (2014). A new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments. Environmental Pollution, 184, 161–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.07.027
Padmachandran, A. V., Sreethu, N., Nasrin, F., Muthuchamy, M., & Muthukumar, A. (2023). Presence of microplastics in estuarine environment: A case study from Kavvayi and Kumbla backwaters of Malabar Coast, Kerala, India. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1–13. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26936-z.
Panagopoulos, A. (2022). Brine management (saline water & wastewater effluents): Sustainable utilization and resource recovery strategy through Minimal and Zero Liquid Discharge (MLD & ZLD) desalination systems. Chemical Engineering and Processing-Process Intensification, 176, 108944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2022.108944
Panagopoulos, A. (2023). Zero liquid discharge and minimal liquid discharge strategies for sustainable saline wastewater (brine) management and valorization. In Resource Recovery in Industrial Waste Waters, 337–351. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95327-6.00023-3.
Patchaiyappan, A., Ahmed, S. Z., Dowarah, K., Jayakumar, S., & Devipriya, S. P. (2020). Occurrence, distribution and composition of microplastics in the sediments of South Andaman beaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 156, 111227.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112265.
Patchaiyappan, A., ZakiAhmed, S., Dowarah, K., Khadanga, S. S., Singh, T., Jayakumar, S., ... & Devipriya, S. P. (2021). Prevalence of microplastics in the sediments of Odisha beaches, southeastern coast of India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 167, 112265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111227.
Peng, G., Xu, P., Zhu, B., Bai, M., & Li, D. (2018). Microplastics in freshwater river sediments in Shanghai, China: A case study of risk assessment in mega-cities. Environmental Pollution, 234, 448–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.034
Poeta, G., Fanelli, G., Pietrelli, L., Acosta, A. T., & Battisti, C. (2017). Plastisphere in action: Evidence for an interaction between expanded polystyrene and dunal plants. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International., 12, 11856–11859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8887-7
Rabari, V., Patel, K., Patel, H., & Trivedi, J. (2022). Quantitative assessment of microplastic in sandy beaches of Gujarat state. India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 181, 113925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113925
Ranjani, M., Veerasingam, S., Venkatachalapathy, R., Jinoj, T. P. S., Guganathan, L., Mugilarasan, M., & Vethamony, P. (2022). Seasonal variation, polymer hazard risk and controlling factors of microplastics in beach sediments along the southeast coast of India. Environmental Pollution, 305, 119315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119315
Retama, I., Jonathan, M. P., Shruti, V. C., Velumani, S., Sarkar, S. K., Roy, P. D., & Rodríguez Espinosa, P. F. (2016). Microplastics in tourist beaches of Huatulco Bay, Pacific coast of southern Mexico. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 113(1–2), 530–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.053
Robin, R. S., Karthik, R., Purvaja, R., Ganguly, D., Anandavelu, I., Mugilarasan, M., & Ramesh, R. (2020). Holistic assessment of microplastics in various coastal environmental matrices, southwest coast of India. Science of the Total Environment, 703, 134947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134947
Rocha-Santos, T. A. P. (2018). Editorial overview: Micro and nano-plastics. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 1(February):52–54. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2018COESH...1... 52R/doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2018.01.003.
Sathish, N., Jeyasanta, K. I., & Patterson, J. (2019). Abundance, characteristics and surface degradation features of microplastics in beach sediments of five coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 142, 112–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.03.037
Selvam, S., Manisha, A., Roy, P. D., Venkatramanan, S., Chung, S. Y., Muthukumar, P., & Elzain, H. E. (2021). Microplastics and trace metals in fish species of the Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean) and evaluation of human health. Environmental Pollution, 291, 118089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118089
Shaji, J. (2014). Coastal sensitivity assessment for Thiruvananthapuram, west coast of India. Natural Hazards, 73, 1369–1392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1139-y
Solomon, O. O., & Palanisami, T. (2016). Microplastics in the marine environment: Current status, assessment methodologies, impacts and solutions. Journal of Pollution Effects and Control, 4, 161. https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4397.1000161
Sridhar, K. R., Deviprasad, B., Karamchand, K. S., & Bhat, R. (2009). Plastic debris along the beaches of Karnataka, Southwest Coast of India. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, 6(2), 87–93. Print.
Sruthy, S., & Ramasamy, E. V. (2017). Microplastic pollution in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India: The first report of microplastics in lake and estuarine sediments in India. Environmental Pollution, 222, 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.038
Sundar, S., Chokkalingam, L., Roy, P. D., & Usha, T. (2021). Estimation of microplastics in sediments at the southernmost coast of India (Kanyakumari). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 18495–18500. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10333-x
Suresh, A., Vijayaraghavan, G., Saranya, K. S., Neethu, K. V., & Aneesh, B. (2020). Microplastics distribution and contamination from the Cochin coastal zone, India. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 40, 101533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101533.
Talsness, C. E., Andrade, A. J., Kuriyama, S. N., Taylor, J. A., & Vom Saal, F. S. (2009). Components of plastic: Experimental studies in animals and relevance for human health. Philosophical Transactions of Royal Society B Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 2079–2096. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0281
Thompson, R. C., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R. P., Davis, A., Rowland, S. J., John, A. W. G., McGonigle, D., & Russell, A. E. (2004). Lost at sea: Where is all the plastic? Science, 304, 838. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559
Thompson, R., Swan, S., Moore, C., & vom Saal, F. (2009). Our plastic age. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series b, Biological Sciences, 364, 1973–1976. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0054
Tiwari, M., Rathod, T. D., Ajmal, P. Y., Bhangare, R. C., & Sahu, S. K. (2019). Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 140, 262–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.055
Vaz, B., Williams, A. T., Pereira, C., Silva, D., & Phillips, M. (2009). The importance of user’s perception for beach management. Journal of Coastal Research, 56(56), 1164–1168. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25737970.
Veerasingam, S., Ranjani, M., Venkatachalapathy, R., Bagaev, A., Mukhanov, V., Litvinyuk, D., ... & Vethamony, P. (2020). Microplastics in different environmental compartments in India: Analytical methods, distribution, associated contaminants and research needs. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 133, 116071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2020.116071.
Venkatramanan, S., Chung, S. Y., Selvam, S., Sivakumar, K., Soundhariya, G. R., Elzain, H. E., & Bhuyan, M. S. (2022). Characteristics of microplastics in the beach sediments of Marina tourist beach, Chennai, India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 176, 113409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113409.
Vidyasakar, A., Krishnakumar, S., Kasilingam, K., Neelavannan, K., Bharathi, V. A., Godson, P. S., ... & Magesh, N. S. (2020). Characterization and distribution of microplastics and plastic debris along Silver Beach, Southern India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 158, 111421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111421.
Yang, Y., Chen, F., Zhang, L., Liu, J., Shijun, W., & Kang, M. (2012). Comprehensive assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediment of the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent shelf. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 64, 1947–1955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.04.024
Yaranal, N. A., Subbiah, S., & Mohanty, K. (2021). Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sediments from Karnataka (India) coastal environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 169, 112550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112550.
Zettler, E. R., Mincer, T. J., & Amaral-Zettler, L. (2013). Life in the “plastisphere”: Microbial communities on plastic marine debris. Environmental Science and Technology, 47, 7137–7146. https://doi.org/10.1021/es401288x
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by H. S. Arjun and Satheesh Herbert Singh. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Vijayalekshmi Padmachandran Aiswriya. Supervision, reviewing, and editing were carried out by S. Krishnakumar, Anbazhagi Muthukumar, and Muthukumar Muthuchamy.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical Approval
All authors have read, understood, and complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors and are aware that with minor exceptions, no changes can be made to authorship once the paper is submitted.
Consent to Participate
Not applicable.
Consent for Publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Arjun, H.S., Aiswriya, V.P., Muthuchamy, M. et al. Distribution and Characterization of Microplastics Along the Coastal Shoreline of Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India. Water Air Soil Pollut 235, 241 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07061-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07061-0