Comparison of The Physical Properties of Microplastics to The Type of Sediment (Research Paper)

Comparison of The Physical Properties of Microplastics to The Type of Sediment
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Abstract
Different researchers have recently, and over the years, tried to explain the main physical properties of micro-plastics. Micro-plastic remains are, at many times, spotted near marine environments. This is dangerous because it poses a threat to different marine life as well as the ecosystem in general. Physical properties such as shape, color, and length are the main aspects researchers are interested in. There are several studies that have been conducted in order to understand these physical properties and their relationship to the location. There are different types of marine life, which include saltwater, freshwater, and sediments. These are the main areas where microplastics are found. Different materials are lying on a depth of at least 5 cm from the surface, with different densities and buoyancy are analyzed. Moreover, the geophysical problem of microplastics in logistics is treated as a major challenge in real life. Using data, this study aimed at comparing the physical properties of microplastics to the type of sediment they exist, or they were found.
Table of Contents
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Abstract  PAGEREF _Toc55508757 \h
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Comparison of The Physical Properties of Microplastics to The Type of Sediment  PAGEREF _Toc55508758 \h
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Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc55508759 \h
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Method  PAGEREF _Toc55508760 \h
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Results  PAGEREF _Toc55508761 \h
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Average Shape Size  PAGEREF _Toc55508762 \h
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Count Data of Different Shapes  PAGEREF _Toc55508763 \h
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Total Number of Microplastic Found at Each Type of Site  PAGEREF _Toc55508764 \h
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Distribution of Shape's Colors Across Different Sources  PAGEREF _Toc55508765 \h
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Color Distribution Across the Shapes  PAGEREF _Toc55508766 \h
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Correlation  PAGEREF _Toc55508767 \h
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Hypotheses Testing  PAGEREF _Toc55508768 \h
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Discussion and Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc55508769 \h
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References  PAGEREF _Toc55508770 \h
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Comparison of The Physical Properties of Microplastics to The Type of Sediment
Introduction
The accumulation of plastic in the marine environment has been a significant concern for centuries now. While there is increased international attention on the issues, including advocacy based on the threats to the environment, the build-up of plastic in the environment increases. This is attributed to increased plastic production across the world (Claessens et al., 2013). The problems based on microplastic pollutants in marine ecosystems are on the rise, posing a danger to the environment and marine life. Moreover, numerous social and economic activities have been halted due to the increasing levels of the tiny fragments from plastics. Plastic materials such as polystyrene form large heaps of debris in the seas, oceans, and other water bodies. This is a significant concern because marine life is destroyed due to pollution and poisoning from these materials.
Coppock et al. (2017) noted that microplastics of size between 0.1 μm–5 mm are the main widespread marine pollutants. They are usually “accumulating in benthic sediments and shorelines the world over” (Coppock et al., 2017, p. 829). Microplastic existence within marine environments endangers the health of surrounding communities depending on the marine economy. This implies that the existence of microplastics is a direct threat to food security. In this regard, understanding the physical properties of microplastics in marine is essential to understand the potential effects and establish proper remedies to alleviate any potential dangers. Microplastics are described as tiny particles or fragments of plastics characterized by different physical properties such as color, shape, and length (Hidalgo-Ruz et al., 2012).
The variation of density across various sediments and water bodies also affects how the microplastics debris is transported to various regions. This implies that there is a difference in levels of the pollutants in different marine waters or sediments. It also affects the physical properties of the matter based on color, shape, and length. In most cases, it is believed that most marine regions have large amounts of plastic waste due to its nearness to cities or waste disposal centers. However, this is contrary to the fact that regions with vast loads of plastic fragments are discovered to be far from towns and cities. Consequently, this raises concerns about how these fragments have been transported.
The relationship between the micro-plastic’s physical properties and the locations of the different fragments needs to be compared and establish whether there is a correlation. For example, there is a variation in the color and shape of the materials found in either saltwater or freshwater locations. Also, the varying length of the materials in these locations differ, and hence an analysis is carried out. In other incidents, the plastic wastes are more distributed than others where the concentration is very high. These differences are experienced based on the nature of the marine environment. Most studies established that sediments in the lower layers of the marine environment have large microplastics loads, with saltwater areas having the least concentration. The variations explain the high difference in plastic loading in sampling techniques or differing densities.
The reason behind lower sediments having the most massive load of microplastics is yet to be explained. The analysis aims to highlight these differences and the reasons behind the microplastics load differences. Fragments of various origins and fiber protons with macro beads are the microplastics' primary shapes, assuming either regular or irregular shapes. The cone-shaped is mostly assumed. Hidalgo-Ruz et al (2012) claimed that the microplastics' irregular and regular shapes depended on the fragmentation activity. There is also a suggestion that all microplastics possessed a fibrous shape.
The collected data allows sample estimation of microplastic physical properties based on their existence timeline in the locations during the sampling period. The fragments are transported to other areas when floating due to wind action on water surfaces. Other physical driving forces such as gravity and Archimedean buoyancy also facilitates the movements of the fragments.
Method
The method used to obtain the data i...