Abstract
Plastics and microplastics have been quantified and characterised at disposal sites of abandoned fishing boats and along the high-water line (HWL) of a fish landing centre in Chellanam, India. Fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) made a greater contribution to the plastic pool at the disposal sites (~ 4.5 n m−2 and 18 g m−2) than the HWL (~ 0.25 n m−2 and < 1 g m−2) and was an abundant component of the microplastic pool at the former. Infrared analysis of micro-sized FRPs revealed various resins (e.g., alkyd, polyester, epoxy), while X-ray fluorescence analysis of the painted surfaces of meso-sized FRPs returned variable concentrations of copper and lead. Concentrations of Pb were high enough to contaminate sand up to ~400 mg kg−1. The relatively high density of FRP and its association with glass fibres and metal-bearing paints results in particles with potentially very different fates and toxicities to more “conventional” (non-composite) thermoplastics.
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114980
Publication Date
2023-07-01
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
192
ISSN
0025-326X
Embargo Period
2024-05-17
Organisational Unit
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Lekshmi, N. M., Kumar, S., Ashraf, P., Nehala, S., Edwin, L., & Turner, A. (2023) 'Occurrence and characteristics of fibreglass-reinforced plastics and microplastics on a beach impacted by abandoned fishing boats: A case study from Chellanam, India', Marine Pollution Bulletin, 192. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114980
