Microplastics in subsurface coastal waters along the southern coast of Viti Levu in Fiji, South Pacific

Dehm, Jasha and Singh, Shubha S. and Ferreira, Marta and Piovano, Susanna (2020) Microplastics in subsurface coastal waters along the southern coast of Viti Levu in Fiji, South Pacific. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 156 . p. 111239. ISSN 0025-326X

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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) remain largely understudied in Small Island Developing States. This study is aimed at comparing the abundance and characteristics of MPs in rural and urban marine coastal sites located along the southern coast of Fiji's main inhabited island, Viti Levu. Collection of subsurface waters (at depth of ca. 0.6 m) was performed at seven sites via Niskin bottle. Samples were filtered over a membrane filter to extract MPs and to allow visual analysis and polymer identification by using attenuated total reflectance in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Findings from this study depict widespread presence of MPs in both urban and rural sites, and show no significant differences in the four parameters studied, i.e. abundance of MP pieces (2.0 vs 1.6 MP/L, respectively), form types (dominance of fibers), size (0.5�0.9 and 1.0

Item Type:	Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Microplastics, Coastal pollution, Pacific Islands, SIDS, Microfibers, Rural area, Urban area
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Marine Studies
Depositing User:	Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited:	04 Jun 2020 01:12
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2022 04:22
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/12175

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