Hongsong Zeng , Dongxiang Liu , Shuchen Liu , Zeyuan Li , Yongcheng Ding , Teng Wang
{"title":"南海中部地表水微塑料的发生、特征及生态风险评价","authors":"Hongsong Zeng , Dongxiang Liu , Shuchen Liu , Zeyuan Li , Yongcheng Ding , Teng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118760","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastic pollution poses serious threats in semi-enclosed marine ecosystems, yet comprehensive risk assessment frameworks are lacking for tropical seas. This study comprehensively investigated microplastic pollution dynamics and ecological risks in the central South China Sea through systematic sampling, polymer characterization, and environmental analysis. Quantitative analysis revealed significant spatial distribution differences in microplastic abundance (386–4254 items/m<sup>3</sup>, mean 1198 ± 136.51 items/m<sup>3</sup>), showing a pronounced nearshore-offshore gradient (nearshore Zone A: 1700 items/m<sup>3</sup> vs. offshore Zone C: 740 items/m<sup>3</sup>), primarily influenced by terrestrial inputs and monsoon-driven surface currents. Particle size analysis indicated 200-500 μm fraction dominance (30 %), while polymer composition analysis identified rayon (20.8 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (15.3 %) as major types, originating from municipal sewage fiber discharge and packaging material degradation, respectively. Pollution Risk Index (PRI) assessment showed the transition zone (Zone B, mean PRI: 4007.17) as a critical risk hotspot due to localized accumulation of low-content, high-toxicity polymers, particularly polystyrene (PRI: 10614) and polyvinyl chloride (PRI: 8518). The study demonstrates that conventional abundance-based assessments underestimate ecological risks by overlooking polymer-specific toxicity. Pollution severity is determined by toxicity rather than abundance. Recommendations include prioritizing polymer-specific monitoring protocols and enhancing wastewater treatment and regulatory controls in high-risk areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18215,"journal":{"name":"Marine pollution bulletin","volume":"222 ","pages":"Article 118760"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Occurrence, characteristics and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the surface water of the Central South China Sea\",\"authors\":\"Hongsong Zeng , Dongxiang Liu , Shuchen Liu , Zeyuan Li , Yongcheng Ding , Teng Wang\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118760\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div>Microplastic pollution poses serious threats in semi-enclosed marine ecosystems, yet comprehensive risk assessment frameworks are lacking for tropical seas. This study comprehensively investigated microplastic pollution dynamics and ecological risks in the central South China Sea through systematic sampling, polymer characterization, and environmental analysis. Quantitative analysis revealed significant spatial distribution differences in microplastic abundance (386–4254 items/m<sup>3</sup>, mean 1198 ± 136.51 items/m<sup>3</sup>), showing a pronounced nearshore-offshore gradient (nearshore Zone A: 1700 items/m<sup>3</sup> vs. offshore Zone C: 740 items/m<sup>3</sup>), primarily influenced by terrestrial inputs and monsoon-driven surface currents. Particle size analysis indicated 200-500 μm fraction dominance (30 %), while polymer composition analysis identified rayon (20.8 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (15.3 %) as major types, originating from municipal sewage fiber discharge and packaging material degradation, respectively. Pollution Risk Index (PRI) assessment showed the transition zone (Zone B, mean PRI: 4007.17) as a critical risk hotspot due to localized accumulation of low-content, high-toxicity polymers, particularly polystyrene (PRI: 10614) and polyvinyl chloride (PRI: 8518). The study demonstrates that conventional abundance-based assessments underestimate ecological risks by overlooking polymer-specific toxicity. Pollution severity is determined by toxicity rather than abundance. Recommendations include prioritizing polymer-specific monitoring protocols and enhancing wastewater treatment and regulatory controls in high-risk areas.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":18215,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Marine pollution bulletin\",\"volume\":\"222 \",\"pages\":\"Article 118760\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":4.9000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-10-03\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Marine pollution bulletin\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"93\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25012366\",\"RegionNum\":3,\"RegionCategory\":\"环境科学与生态学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Marine pollution bulletin","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25012366","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
Occurrence, characteristics and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the surface water of the Central South China Sea
Microplastic pollution poses serious threats in semi-enclosed marine ecosystems, yet comprehensive risk assessment frameworks are lacking for tropical seas. This study comprehensively investigated microplastic pollution dynamics and ecological risks in the central South China Sea through systematic sampling, polymer characterization, and environmental analysis. Quantitative analysis revealed significant spatial distribution differences in microplastic abundance (386–4254 items/m3, mean 1198 ± 136.51 items/m3), showing a pronounced nearshore-offshore gradient (nearshore Zone A: 1700 items/m3 vs. offshore Zone C: 740 items/m3), primarily influenced by terrestrial inputs and monsoon-driven surface currents. Particle size analysis indicated 200-500 μm fraction dominance (30 %), while polymer composition analysis identified rayon (20.8 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (15.3 %) as major types, originating from municipal sewage fiber discharge and packaging material degradation, respectively. Pollution Risk Index (PRI) assessment showed the transition zone (Zone B, mean PRI: 4007.17) as a critical risk hotspot due to localized accumulation of low-content, high-toxicity polymers, particularly polystyrene (PRI: 10614) and polyvinyl chloride (PRI: 8518). The study demonstrates that conventional abundance-based assessments underestimate ecological risks by overlooking polymer-specific toxicity. Pollution severity is determined by toxicity rather than abundance. Recommendations include prioritizing polymer-specific monitoring protocols and enhancing wastewater treatment and regulatory controls in high-risk areas.
期刊介绍:
Marine Pollution Bulletin is concerned with the rational use of maritime and marine resources in estuaries, the seas and oceans, as well as with documenting marine pollution and introducing new forms of measurement and analysis. A wide range of topics are discussed as news, comment, reviews and research reports, not only on effluent disposal and pollution control, but also on the management, economic aspects and protection of the marine environment in general.