1. Effect of tidal current on the settling and accumulation of microplastics in the Chao Phraya River estuary, Thailand.
- Author
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Vibhatabandhu, Pathompong, Prachayakul, Teerapat, Tang-siri, Jiradet, Benmas, Patsharaporn, Srithongouthai, Sarawut, and Kanokkantapong, Vorapot
- Subjects
TIDAL currents ,PLASTIC marine debris ,MICROPLASTICS ,SUSPENDED solids ,ESTUARIES ,EPOXY resins ,BIODEGRADABLE plastics - Abstract
The deposition of MPs in a water column and surface sediment during a mixed spring tidal cycle of the Chao Phraya River estuary was investigated. The settling MPs during flood and ebb tides were collected by deploying traps at 3 m below the surface, while the settled MPs throughout the tidal cycle were collected by deploying traps at 1 m above the bottom. The settling rate of MPs was 2168 pieces/m
2 /h during highest to low tide, and 639 pieces/m2 /h during high to lowest tide. The deposition rate of MPs after the end of the tidal cycle was 3172 pieces/m2 /day, while the accumulation rate of MPs in the surface sediment was 1515 pieces/m2 /day. The settling MPs tended to decrease inversely to the suspended solids and salinity. The major types of the deposited MPs were polyethylene (36 %) and polyamide (33 %), while that of the surface sediment was epoxy resin (80 %). [Display omitted] • The deposition rate of microplastics collected by sediment traps was 3,172 pieces/m2 /day, while the accumulation rate of microplastics in the surface sediment was 1515 pieces/m2 /day. • The settling of microplastics is inverse to salinity and suspended solids. • Low-density plastics were the majority of plastics that settled at the sediment trap 1 m above the bottom, but denser plastics highly accumulated in the surface sediment. • The result is evidence of a resuspension of microplastics during a tidal current in a river estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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