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Spatial, seasonal and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in sediment and surface water along the Thoothukudi, south Tamil Nadu, south east India

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Abstract

Microplastics are a widespread environmental contaminant that raises serious concern for aquatic organisms. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the spatial and seasonal variation of microplastics, their characteristics, polymer types and the risk assessment caused by the microplastics in six sampling sites along the Thoothukudi region. The average microplastic abundance ranged from 32 ± 26 to 232 ± 229 items/kg and 54 ± 41 to 619 ± 377 items/l in sediment and surface water, respectively, and they exhibited a significant spatial difference among the sampling sites. The microplastic abundance also showed a significant difference among the seasons with the monsoon significantly recording the highest mean microplastic abundance in sediment (160 ± 130 items/kg) and surface water (454 ± 374 items/l). In sediment and surface water, fragment (sediment: 52.72%, surface water: 40.89%), 0.5–1 mm (sediment: 43.96%, surface water: 31.11%) and blue-coloured (sediment: 52.33%, surface water: 41.85%) microplastics were dominant with no significant difference both spatially and seasonally. Polyethylene, the dominant polymer, was observed in both the sediment and surface water, accounting for about 47.58% and 49.83%, respectively, and it showed no significant difference among the selected sites. This signifies that they are homogenously distributed along the coast and further suggests that these particles persisted in the sediment and surface water for a longer period of time. The results of the polymer hazard index show that the sediment (PHI = 1181.63) and surface water (PHI = 1018.66) were severely contaminated (hazard level V) with microplastic polymers such as PE, PP, PS, PET and PA. It was also found that the degree of the microplastic contamination in sediment (PLI = 3.57) and surface water (PLI = 3.84) was lower (hazard level I). The overall risk index (RI) for sediment (253.48) and surface water (444.74) falls under the higher risk category. From the correlation analysis, a significantly positive relationship was observed between microplastics in sediment and surface water based on each classification (abundance, shape, size, colour and polymer). This suggests that microplastics rejoin the water column from the sediment through resuspension, which occurs due to the circulation, tides and sedimentation rate. This might be the reason for the higher microplastic abundance in the surface water than in the sediment. As a result, proper management measures to reduce plastic waste disposal in the marine environment should be implemented to lessen the effects of microplastics on marine biota and on public health.

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published articles (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their thanks to the Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University for providing the support and facilities needed to carry out this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Environment Management, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kalaiselvan Keerthika, Pandurangan Padmavathy & Velu Rani

  2. Department of Fish Quality Assurance and Management, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India

    Robinson Jeyashakila

  3. Erode Bhavanisagar Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India

    Samraj Aanand

  4. Department of Aquatic Environment Management, College of Fisheries, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, India

    Ranjeet Kutty

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  1. Kalaiselvan Keerthika
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Kalaiselvan Keerthika: acquisition, data processing and interpretation, manuscript drafting and editing; Pandurangan Padmavathy: design of the study, revision of the article; Velu Rani: revision of the article and editing; Robinson Jeyashakila: revision of the article; Samraj Aanand: revision of the article; Ranjeet Kutty: revision of the article.

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Keerthika, K., Padmavathy, P., Rani, V. et al. Spatial, seasonal and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in sediment and surface water along the Thoothukudi, south Tamil Nadu, south east India. Environ Monit Assess 194, 820 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10468-z

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