Microplastic pollution on seagrass blades in two coastal bays in Northern Mindanao, Philippines
Regional Studies in Marine Science(2024)
Abstract
Seagrass, a key component of marine environments, can also act as a conduit for microplastics (< 5mm) into the food web. In this pioneering study, we investigated the occurrence of microplastics on seagrass blades in the Philippines for the first time. Our research focused on Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata in Buru-un, Iligan City; and Enhalus acoroides and Halodule uninervis in Tubajon, Laguindingan. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, we identified 53 particles as microplastics. Microplastic density ranged from 0.054 ±0.061n/cm2 to 0.255 ±0.306n/cm2, with C. rotundata exhibiting the highest density. Poly(methyl methacrylate) particles were the most prevalent in all four seagrass species. This study presents the first scientific literature on microplastics found on seagrass blades in the Philippines. It underscores the necessity for immediate and ongoing microplastic monitoring in biota and other seagrass components to trace microplastic pathways in the marine food web, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue.
MoreTranslated text
Key words
beaches,coast,plastic debris,marine litter,FTIR
AI Read Science
Must-Reading Tree
Example
![](https://originalfileserver.aminer.cn/sys/aminer/pubs/mrt_preview.jpeg)
Generate MRT to find the research sequence of this paper
Chat Paper
Summary is being generated by the instructions you defined