Kumar Ajit, Soratur Akshatha, Kumar Sumit, Kiruba-Sankar R, Jha Dilip Kumar, Venmathi Maran Balu Alagar
Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobars Islands, India.
Department of Industrial Fish and Fisheries, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India.
PeerJ. 2025 Sep 5;13:e19965. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19965. eCollection 2025.
Microplastic pollution poses a growing global threat to marine ecosystems, and soil sediments at fish landing centres are an often-overlooked reservoir of microplastics. Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), located in South Andaman Island, is critical for fisheries and marine biodiversity, making it an important area for studying microplastic pollution. This study aims to identify the key drivers of microplastic pollution in soil sediments at fish landing centers. The specific objectives included assessing microplastic abundance, characterizing polymer types, and identifying potential pollution sources, such as fishing gear, plastic packaging, and urban runoff. Sediment samples were collected from six fish landing centres such as Junglighat, Dignabad, Chatham, Guptapara, Wandoor and Chidiyatapu. The study revealed significant spatial variation in microplastic concentrations, with higher contamination in the northern region. Notably, the northern region (centers) had a significantly higher mean abundance of 251.4 ± 110.3 particles/kg compared to the southern region's (centers) 105.0 ± 57.1 particles/kg. The Mann-Whitney Test ( = 283.0, -value = 0.00014) substantiated this significant difference. Dominant polymer types included aramid fiber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, and polyisoprene, indicating industrial and consumer waste sources. Potential sources were linked to urban runoff, fishing activities, and inadequate waste management. This study contributes to understanding microplastic pollution drivers in tropical coastal environments. The findings highlight the impact of anthropogenic activities and land use patterns on microplastic pollution in fish landing centres. This information is crucial for developing targeted mitigation strategies in similar coastal regions.
微塑料污染对全球海洋生态系统构成了日益严重的威胁，而鱼类上岸中心的土壤沉积物是一个常常被忽视的微塑料储存库。位于南安达曼岛的斯里维贾亚普拉姆（布莱尔港）对渔业和海洋生物多样性至关重要，使其成为研究微塑料污染的重要区域。本研究旨在确定鱼类上岸中心土壤沉积物中微塑料污染的关键驱动因素。具体目标包括评估微塑料丰度、表征聚合物类型以及识别潜在污染源，如渔具、塑料包装和城市径流。从六个鱼类上岸中心采集了沉积物样本，如荣格利哈特、迪格纳巴德、查塔姆、古普塔帕拉、万多尔和奇迪亚塔普。研究揭示了微塑料浓度存在显著的空间差异，北部地区的污染程度更高。值得注意的是，北部地区（中心）的平均丰度显著高于南部地区（中心），分别为251.4±110.3颗粒/千克和105.0±57.1颗粒/千克。曼-惠特尼检验（U = 283.0，p值 = 0.00014）证实了这一显著差异。主要的聚合物类型包括芳纶纤维、丙烯腈-丁二烯橡胶和聚异戊二烯，表明存在工业和消费废弃物来源。潜在来源与城市径流、渔业活动和废物管理不善有关。本研究有助于理解热带沿海环境中微塑料污染的驱动因素。研究结果突出了人为活动和土地利用模式对鱼类上岸中心微塑料污染的影响。这些信息对于在类似沿海地区制定有针对性的缓解策略至关重要。
