Microplastic Distribution Characteristics Considering the Marine Environment Based on Surface Seawater Quality Parameters in Southern Sea of Korea, 2019

Ki Yoon Kim, Hui Ho Jeong, Ji Hoo Kim, Byeong Kyu Min, Chon Rae Cho, Ho Young Soh, Yasuhiro Ishibashi and Hyeon Seo Cho ()
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Ki Yoon Kim: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, College of Fisheries & Ocean Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Republic of Korea
Hui Ho Jeong: Faculty of Environmental & Symbiotic Science, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan
Ji Hoo Kim: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, College of Fisheries & Ocean Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Republic of Korea
Byeong Kyu Min: Wando Regional Office, National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, Wando 59116, Republic of Korea
Chon Rae Cho: Best Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., Yeosu 59661, Republic of Korea
Ho Young Soh: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, College of Fisheries & Ocean Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Republic of Korea
Yasuhiro Ishibashi: Faculty of Environmental & Symbiotic Science, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kumamoto 862-8502, Japan
Hyeon Seo Cho: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, College of Fisheries & Ocean Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: The present study determined the microplastic distributions in the surface water of the Southern Sea of Korea (SS01–SS09) in September 2019, depending on three groups (Groups A, B, and C) categorized via the principal component analysis and cluster analysis using the water quality parameters (water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate matter, and chlorophyll- a ). The microplastic samples in the surface water were collected using a 300 μm-mesh neuston net. The microplastic abundance ranged from 0.10 to 5.08 (average 0.71 ± 1.64) particles/m 3 in the entire sampling area. Median values in Groups A (SS01, SS02, and SS07), B (SS05, SS08, and SS09), and C (SS03, SS04, and SS06) were 0.14 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.14, and 0.17 ± 2.85 particles/m 3 , respectively, and there were no statistically significant differences ( p < 0.050). However, it was highlighted that the most considerably numerous microplastic abundance in SS04 (5.08 particles/m 3 ) revealed relatively high water temperatures distinguished from other sampling areas. Polystyrene, consisting mainly of expanded polystyrene, was the predominant polymer type, accounting for 81.5% in Groups A, 84.4% in B, and 97.0% in C. The particle size in Group C (average 3.11 ± 1.08 mm) was statistically larger ( p < 0.001) than those of Groups A (average 0.71 ± 1.06 mm) and B (average 0.98 ± 1.22 mm). Only fragment and sheet shapes were found in all the sampling points and the former, which consisted of the secondary microplastics regardless of the groups, was the dominant type. The fragment composition gradually increased from 77.3% in Group A, 96.7% in B, to 99.1% in C. However, the strategy studies should be investigated in the foreseeable future to supplement the current study limitations, such as verifying the effect of the Yangtze River and the Tsushima warm current, and seasonal fluctuation.

Keywords: microplastic distribution; water quality parameter; statistical analysis; South Sea of Korea (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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