Current State of Microplastics Research …
45
respectively [126]. Silver Beach, southern India showed slightly more significant
plastic pollution than that on the Tuticorin coast [129]. The main reason that authors
pointed out was the influence of the discharge of urban runoff into the Gadilam River
and suggested that this river was the primary source of plastic debris on the beach.
The study found out that 65% of the obtained plastic debris are mesoplastics, 18%
micro, and 17% macro plastics materials. They also highlighted the influence of
higher surface runoff during monsoon and aeolian deposits during the dry season in
the distribution of plastics along the beach. Tourism and fishing activities are found
to be the primary sources of plastic materials in the coastal region.
The presence of microplastic resin pellets from two beaches from the Tamil
Nadu coast was documented by Mugilarasan et al. [79]. The Tinnakkara Island,
even though it is remote, observed a higher abundance of pellets compared to the
Chennai coast. The primary sources of these materials to the Tinnakkara Island were
generated from external sources, that is activities away from the islands. The ocean
currents and wind act as a carrier of these materials from the outside areas to the
island. Because of the higher harbour and industrial activities, the microplastic resin
pellets obtained from the Chennai coast are highly weathered and absorbed many
environmental pollutants. Furthermore, secondary microplastics were obtained from
the beach sediments of Kanyakumari, located in southernmost India [123]. Higher
microplastics were obtained from tourist beaches, followed by harbours, coastal
fishing villages/residential beaches, and undisturbed coastal areas, suggesting the
influence of the different degrees of human activities on microplastic distribution.
Kaladharan et al. [57] studied the marine litter on different beaches along the
coast of Peninsular India and the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
According to them, the garbage comprises mostly of plastics, and this problem can
be reduced by social awareness. Plastic pollution has been reported from the coastal
environment of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands even before [28], Das and Mohanty
[25]. A higher concentration of plastic wastes was documented in the Nicobar Island
sector and also the North and Middle Andaman Island sector [67]. According to the
authors, currents play an important role in microplastic distribution in the coastal
environment. The microplastics were also reported from the different stations along
the South Andaman beach (mean = 414.35 ± 87.4 particles per kilogram of beach
sediments; [88]). The Port Blair Bay is also affected by microplastic pollution with an
average abundance of 45.17 ± 25.23 particles per kilogram in sediments and 0.93 ±
0.59 particles per m
3 in surface seawater samples collected from the bay [40]. Begum
et al. [9] investigated the sediments of three estuarine regions, namely, Uppanar,
Vellar, and Coleroon, for microplastic pollution. They found a higher concentration
of Mps in the sediments of the Tamil Nadu coastal zone [9]. Their results suggest that
freshwater rivers are a potential source of Mps. Land-based sources including waste
disposal from industries near the study area and recreational activities, are dominant
sources of Mps in the study area compared to the sea-based sources.
Based on all the works, it is inferred that terrestrial sources of microplastics
are more compared to marine sources. Fishing practices, including aquaculture
and shipping activities, are the observed primary ocean-based sources of Mps.
Tourist/recreational activities, beach littering, unplanned waste disposal, including
45
respectively [126]. Silver Beach, southern India showed slightly more significant
plastic pollution than that on the Tuticorin coast [129]. The main reason that authors
pointed out was the influence of the discharge of urban runoff into the Gadilam River
and suggested that this river was the primary source of plastic debris on the beach.
The study found out that 65% of the obtained plastic debris are mesoplastics, 18%
micro, and 17% macro plastics materials. They also highlighted the influence of
higher surface runoff during monsoon and aeolian deposits during the dry season in
the distribution of plastics along the beach. Tourism and fishing activities are found
to be the primary sources of plastic materials in the coastal region.
The presence of microplastic resin pellets from two beaches from the Tamil
Nadu coast was documented by Mugilarasan et al. [79]. The Tinnakkara Island,
even though it is remote, observed a higher abundance of pellets compared to the
Chennai coast. The primary sources of these materials to the Tinnakkara Island were
generated from external sources, that is activities away from the islands. The ocean
currents and wind act as a carrier of these materials from the outside areas to the
island. Because of the higher harbour and industrial activities, the microplastic resin
pellets obtained from the Chennai coast are highly weathered and absorbed many
environmental pollutants. Furthermore, secondary microplastics were obtained from
the beach sediments of Kanyakumari, located in southernmost India [123]. Higher
microplastics were obtained from tourist beaches, followed by harbours, coastal
fishing villages/residential beaches, and undisturbed coastal areas, suggesting the
influence of the different degrees of human activities on microplastic distribution.
Kaladharan et al. [57] studied the marine litter on different beaches along the
coast of Peninsular India and the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
According to them, the garbage comprises mostly of plastics, and this problem can
be reduced by social awareness. Plastic pollution has been reported from the coastal
environment of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands even before [28], Das and Mohanty
[25]. A higher concentration of plastic wastes was documented in the Nicobar Island
sector and also the North and Middle Andaman Island sector [67]. According to the
authors, currents play an important role in microplastic distribution in the coastal
environment. The microplastics were also reported from the different stations along
the South Andaman beach (mean = 414.35 ± 87.4 particles per kilogram of beach
sediments; [88]). The Port Blair Bay is also affected by microplastic pollution with an
average abundance of 45.17 ± 25.23 particles per kilogram in sediments and 0.93 ±
0.59 particles per m
3 in surface seawater samples collected from the bay [40]. Begum
et al. [9] investigated the sediments of three estuarine regions, namely, Uppanar,
Vellar, and Coleroon, for microplastic pollution. They found a higher concentration
of Mps in the sediments of the Tamil Nadu coastal zone [9]. Their results suggest that
freshwater rivers are a potential source of Mps. Land-based sources including waste
disposal from industries near the study area and recreational activities, are dominant
sources of Mps in the study area compared to the sea-based sources.
Based on all the works, it is inferred that terrestrial sources of microplastics
are more compared to marine sources. Fishing practices, including aquaculture
and shipping activities, are the observed primary ocean-based sources of Mps.
Tourist/recreational activities, beach littering, unplanned waste disposal, including