Macro-, meso- and microplastic debris in the beaches of Tuticorin district, Southeast coast of India

Abstract

This study investigates the mean concentration and characteristics of macroplastics (>2.5 cm), mesoplastics (5 mm - 2.5 cm) and microplastics (<5 mm) on eight sandy beaches along the shoreline of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Prevalence of plastic litters varies among the study sites depending on the intensity of fishing and other human activities. Mean concentrations of macroplastics (1.38 ± 78 to 6.16 ± 94 items/m²), mesoplastics (2 ± 0.8 to 17 ± 0.11 items/m²) and microplastics (25 ± 1.58 to 83 ± 49 items/m²) were estimated in respect of the polymers composing them namely PE, PP, PET, NY, PS and PVC, of which PE is the most predominant polymer. At Sites 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 there is correlation between the intensity of fishing activity and the concentrations of macro- (p = 0.02) and microplastics (p = 0.03). Sites 4, 6 and 7 there is correlation established between the degree of recreational activity and the concentrations of meso- (p = 0.02) and microplastics (p = 0.01).

Keywords: Beach sediment; Clean Coast Index; FTIR-ATR; Macro-, meso-, and microplastics; Plastic pollution.