The spatial and temporal variability about beached microplastics on the coast of Kanagawa prefecture

Abstract

In order to understand microplastic pollution in the coastal areas of Kanagawa Prefecture, we surveyed beached microplastics on the coast at 4 sites in Sagami Bay and 1 site in Tokyo Bay. We also examined spatial and temporal variations in microplastic distribution and characteristics. Spatially, the characteristics of microplastics that accumulated at the high tide line differed between the coastal sites. We presume that this difference was caused by the influence of microplastics derived from inland sources only, not by microplastics from the open ocean. Some of the beached microplastics at the high tide line were transferred inland by the sea breeze, and this tendency was observed in the distribution of resin pellets. In addition, we found that the proportion of large-size microplastics was higher at the high tide line than in found that the of microplastics in increased as a result of prevailing microplastics from to the The of microplastics around By expanded polystyrene spherules beached along we determined that these spherules were likely micro-foaming beads used as cushioning material in packaging. suggest that proper treatment and disposal of such products is important for controlling coastal microplastic pollution.