Disentangling Microplastic Pollution on Beach Sand of Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines: Abundance and Characteristics

Recca E. Sajorne (), Genese Divine B. Cayabo, Lea Janine A. Gajardo, Jhonamie A. Mabuhay-Omar, Lota A. Creencia and Hernando P. Bacosa
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Recca E. Sajorne: College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa 5300, Palawan, Philippines
Genese Divine B. Cayabo: College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa 5300, Palawan, Philippines
Lea Janine A. Gajardo: College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa 5300, Palawan, Philippines
Jhonamie A. Mabuhay-Omar: College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa 5300, Palawan, Philippines
Lota A. Creencia: College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa 5300, Palawan, Philippines
Hernando P. Bacosa: Environmental Science Graduate Program, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan 9200, Lanao del Norte, Philippines

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-11

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging threat to the marine environment and biota. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of MPs on the beach sand of Puerto Princesa, Philippines. Microplastics were extracted from the beach sand through the flotation method and preliminarily identified using a stereomicroscope. A total of 47 MPs were extracted from beach sand. Among the 21 sampling sites, the beach sands from 15 sites were contaminated with MPs. The east coast of Puerto Princesa (0.023 particles/g) has significantly higher MP abundance than the west coast (0.006 particles/g). The shapes of MPs were predominantly fiber (79%), and the majority were blue. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis identified polymer types of mainly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP). Overall, 71% of the sampling sites showed the presence of MPs. Future studies should consider the presence and effects of MPs in the food chain, particularly on seafood.

Keywords: plastic; pollution; polyethylene terephthalate; polypropylene; polymer; FTIR (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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