Quantitative Analysis of the Sized Ranged Plastic Debris on Beach Shoreline along the Limbe Coastline, Cameroon

In recent years, increased interest in investigating the accumulation of sized ranged plastic debris has been observed on beaches along coastlines. The abundance and distribution of the 4M’s sized class plastic debris were quantitatively assessed on five sandy beaches, in Cameroon. Duplicates of 2 × 2 m (4 m2) quadrants were sampled in each beach/month with a total of 80 quadrants. Collected plastic samples were washed, sieved and dried. Particles of size, ≥2 mm, were sorted and measured using a 30 cm ruler, and converted to mm. Overall, 12,822 particles by number (530.59 g) with a mean abundance of 40.07 items/m2 (1.66 g/m2) plastic debris was recorded. ANOVA (p = 0.05) shows a linear relationship between the meso- and micro-sized classes with significantly higher abundance recorded in LDB sites. The highest abundance by weight was recorded in August and June numerically. 80% of the plastic particles were between the size range, of 5 - 20 mm by number and 6 - 100 mm by weight. Moreover, in all beaches micro-sized class plastics were dominated by number 42.40% with fragmented debris dominant, in number/weight, 54.86% (25.69%) while meso-sized class plastics were 29.28% dominated by weight, with fragmented debris type, the most prevalence in number and weight as 46.11% (26.18%). On average, color and shape fractions revealed, colored and irregularly shaped plastics were dominant with an abundance of 80.45 ± 18.17 items/m2 (2.58 ± 0.68 g/m2) and 47.24 ± 20.40 items/m2 (1.39 ± 0.66 g/m2). Finally, the 0.0001 g plastic debris was dominant with a concentration, of 33.68 ± 7.23 items/m2. The intense use of beaches for recreation and poor waste disposal has increased the potential for plastic contamination.

预处理技术--家庭生物废弃物处理过程中的微塑料制造者

Mechanical pretreatment is an indispensable process in biological treatment plants that remove plastics and other impurities from household biogenic waste(HBW).However,the imperfect separation of plastics in these pretreatment methods has raised concerns that they pose a secondary formation risk for microplastics(MPs).To validate this presumption,herein,quantities and properties of plastic debris and MPs larger than 50 μm were examined in the full chain of three different pretreatment methods in six plants.These facilities received HBW with or without prior depackaging at the source.The key points in the secondary formation of MPs were identified.Moreover,flux estimates of MPs were released,and an analysis of MPs sources was provided to develop an overview of their fate in HBW pretreatment.Pretreated output can contain a maximum of(1673±279) to(3198±263) MP particles per kilogram of wet weight(particles·kg^(-1)ww) for those undepackaged at source,and secondary MPs formation is primarily attributed to biomass crushers,biohydrolysis reactors,and rough shredders.Comparatively,HBW depackaged at the source can greatly reduce MPs by 8%-72%,regardless of pretreatment processes.Before pretreatment,4.6-205.6 million MP particles were present in 100 tonnes of HBW.MPs are produced at a rate of 741.11-33124.22 billion MP particles annually in anaerobic digester feedstock(ADF).This study demonstrated that HBW pretreatment is a competitive source of MPs and emphasized the importance of implementing municipal solid waste segregation at the source.Furthermore,depackaging biogenic waste at the source is recommended to substantially alleviate the negative effect of pretreatment on MPs formation.

Seasonal occurrence of microplastics in sediment of two South African recreational reservoirs

Inland water systems are regarded as a pathway and sink of plastic pollutants from the terrestrial environment.Aquatic ecosystems are globally contaminated with microplastics,but the spatiotemporal occurrence and density of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems remain poorly understood.The present study seasonally assessed differences in microplastic density in the sediments from two South African recreational reservoirs associated with low human activities(macadamia orchards)and high human activities(communal areas).Microplastics were recovered from all of the reservoirs assessed,indicating their extensive occurrence and densities.Microplastic numbers were significantly higher in reservoirs associated with high anthropogenic activities during the hot-dry season(140.6 particles kg^(-1)dwt)and lower in reservoirs associated with low anthropogenic activities during the hot-wet and cool-dry seasons,i.e.,22.60 particles kg^(-1)dwt and 16.13 particles kg^(-1)dwt,respectively.Overall,polypropylene(31%)and polystyrene(30%)were identified as the dominant types of microplastic polymer in both reservoir types.Moreover,no correlative relationships were observed for environmental parameters and microplastic densities across reservoirs and seasons,suggesting a widespread and largely context-independent pollution level.These results show that microplastics are not evenly distributed between waters associated with low human activities and high human activities.Future work should seek greater sample sizes and centre around observing microplastic contamination in the region by examining their sources,transport,and impacts to freshwater environments,whilst informing management strategies.