Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediment samples of the Plankenburg river, Western Cape, South Africa

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 323; p. 121303
• Main Authors: Apetogbor, Komlan, Pereao, Omoniyi, Sparks, Conrad, Opeolu, Beatrice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.04.2023
• Subjects: autumn; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Freshwater; Microplastics; Microplastics - analysis; physicochemical properties; Plankenburg river; Plastics - analysis; pollution; polyethylene; river water; rivers; Rivers - chemistry; Sediment; sediments; sorption; South Africa; spectral analysis; spring; summer; surface water; Water - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water quality; winter; South Africa; South Africa; Microplastics; Sediment; Plankenburg river; Freshwater; Water quality
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121303

Microplastic (MPs) pollution has become a subject of environmental concern due to its wide ubiquity in the environment. Microplastics are possible sources of other hazardous chemicals to aquatic organisms due to their composition and sorption properties. In this study, MPs occurrence in water and sediment samples of the Plankenburg River, Western Cape, South Africa was investigated. The physicochemical characterization of the river water was done onsite. 30 L water samples were collected and filtered in 10 L triplicates through a 250 μm mesh onsite using a metal bucket. An additional 12 L sample was collected and filtered in 4 L triplicates through 20 μm mesh in the laboratory. The extraction of MPs from water in the laboratory was by density separation. Sediment samples were also collected at the selected sites, oven-dried and microplastics in the laboratory. Sampling was conducted over four seasons – spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Microplastics were classified by visual observation and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). The seasonal distribution of MPs in the surface water samples varied across all sites. However, spring samples had the highest MPs occurrence (5.13 ± 6.62 MP/L) and the least, in autumn (1.52 ± 2.54 MP/L). The MPs in sediment samples were observed in spring (1587.50 ± 599.32 MP/kg). Fibres were the most dominant microplastic particle type (shape), with a size range of 500–1000 μm at the different sites. The infrared spectroscopic analysis confirmed the dominant polymer type to be polyethylene. This study provides an understanding of the microplastic occurrence in the Plankenburg River system and gives a baseline for future monitoring and assessment of water and sediment in the South African freshwater systems. [Display omitted] •The first investigation of microplastics in the Plankenburg River was reported.•Polyethylene was the main polymer type in the Plankenburg River.•Fibres were the most dominant shapes of microplastic particles.•Anthropogenic activities contributed to microplastic pollution.