Assessment of Microplastic Pollution Load and Ecological Risk Index in Surface Water and Sediment Matrices in the Mangrove Ecosystem along Butuan Bay, Southern Philippines 10.32526/ennrj/23/20240122
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Microplastics have garnered attention for their ubiquitous presence across various ecosystems, yet investigations into their occurrence in mangrove environments, particularly in the Philippines, remain minimal and increasingly necessary. This study seeks to establish a foundational understanding of microplastic distribution in Philippine mangrove forests, with a special focus on Butuan Bay. Surface water and sediment samples were collected from mangrove habitats in Butuan City, Buenavista, and Nasipit along Butuan Bay, in the Southern Philippines. Results indicated that Buenavista (BMS) exhibited the highest microplastic concentrations, with mean abundances of 322.22±103.41 MPs/m3 in surface water and 88.89±50.33 MPs/kg in sediments. Both blue and transparent microplastics were prevalent, constituting 24.2% and 25.7% of surface water and 22.6% and 25.7% of sediments, respectively. Microplastics predominantly fell within the 101-250 µm range (46% in surface water and 45.7% in sediments), with films and fragments comprising 69% of surface water MPs and 76.1% of sediment MPs. Ten polymer types were identified, with polypropylene (PP) being the most abundant (31.5% in surface water and 51.7% in sediments). The assessment of the pollution load index (PLI) indicated that MP pollution levels were classified as slightly polluted (hazard level I), and ecological risk index (RI) posed varying degrees across the studied mangroves, ranging from minor danger (hazard level I) to extreme danger (hazard level V). Microplastics were observed to pose ecological risks within these mangrove areas, as indicated by the highest levels of risk shown by BMS and BCMS. Future studies should examine other surrounding waters of Mindanao, such as the adjacent Gingoog Bay, including inland freshwater bodies, to comprehensively assess MP pollution and its potential effects on marine wildlife in the region.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Published articles are under the copyright of the Environment and Natural Resources Journal effective when the article is accepted for publication thus granting Environment and Natural Resources Journal all rights for the work so that both parties may be protected from the consequences of unauthorized use. Partially or totally publication of an article elsewhere is possible only after the consent from the editors.
References
Ahmed II, Akintola AM, Afolabi OE, Adebisi JA. Recyclability of low-density polyethylene water sachet film into powder and its suitability for polyethylene-wood composite. Journal of King Saud University - Engineering Sciences 2023;35(7):506-11.
Aliabad MK, Nassiri M, Kor K. Microplastics in the surface seawaters of Chabahar Bay, Gulf of Oman (Makran Coasts). Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019;143:125-33.
Allahvaisi S. Polypropylene in the Industry of Food Packaging. In: Dogan F, editor. Polypropylene. London: IntechOpen Limited; 2012. p. 3-22.
Amann M, Minge O. Biodegradability of poly(vinyl acetate) and related polymers. In: Rieger B, Künkel A, Coates G, Reichardt R, Dinjus E, Zevaco T, editors. Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers. Berlin: Springer; 2011. p. 137-72.
Ang R, Sy-Changco J. The Phenomenon of Sachet Marketing: Lessons to be learned from the Philippines. In: Mohr J, Fisher R, editors. 2007 AMA Educators’ Proceedings: Enhancing Knowledge Development in Marketing. Illinois: American Marketing Association; 2007. p. 5-15.
Arthur C, Baker J, Bamford H. Proceedings of the International Research Workshop on the Occurrence, Effects and Fate of Microplastic Marine Debris; Sept 9-11, 2008; NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-30. 2009.
Auta HS, Abioye OP, Aransiola SA, Bala JD, Chukwuemeka VI, Hassan A, et al. Enhanced microbial degradation of PET and PS microplastics under natural conditions in mangrove environment. Journal of Environmental Management 2022;304:Article No. 114273.
Banda MHT, Olayon MCC, Inocente SAT, Segovia JLM, Bedoya NA, Bigcas EV, et al. Microplastic pollution in Mindanao’s Taguibo River watershed forest reserve: Characterization, and distribution patterns, and implications for freshwater ecosystem conservation. Applied Science and Engineering Progress 2024;17(3):7416-6.
Bayen S. Occurrence, bioavailability and toxic effects of trace metals and organic contaminants in mangrove ecosystems: A review. Environment International 2012;48:84-101.
Bonifacio PSP, Metillo EB, Romano EF. Microplastic in sediments and ingestion rates in three edible bivalve Mollusc species in a Southern Philippine Estuary. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 2022;233(11):Article No. 455.
Brennecke D, Duarte B, Paiva F, Caçador I, Canning-Clode J. Microplastics as vector for heavy metal contamination from the marine environment. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 2016;178:189-95.
Chen X, Chen X, Liu Q, Zhao Q, Xiong X, Wu C. Used disposable face masks are significant sources of microplastics to environment. Environmental Pollution 2021;285:Article No. 117485.
Chen B. Current status and trends of research on microplastic fugacity characteristics and pollution levels in mangrove wetlands. Frontiers in Environmental Science 2022;10:Article No. 10121274.
Cole M, Lindeque P, Fileman E, Halsband C, Galloway TS. The impact of polystyrene microplastics on feeding, function and Fecundity in the marine copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Environmental Science and Technology Journal 2015; 49(2):1130-7.
Dehaut A, Cassone AL, Frère L, Hermabessiere L, Himber C, Rinnert E, et al. Microplastics in seafood: Benchmark protocol for their extraction and characterization. Environmental Pollution 2016;215:223-33.
Deng H, He J, Feng D, Zhao Y, Sun W, Yu H, et al. Microplastics pollution in mangrove ecosystems: A critical review of current knowledge and future directions. Science of the Total Environment 2021;753:Article No. 142041.
Deng J, Guo P, Zhang X, Su H, Zhang Y, Wu Y, et al. Microplastics and accumulated heavy metals in restored mangrove wetland surface sediments at Jinjiang Estuary (Fujian, China). Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020;159:Article No. 111482.
Dou PC, Mai L, Bao LJ, Zeng EY. Microplastics on beaches and mangrove sediments along the coast of South China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2021;172:Article No. 112806.
Egessa R, Nankabirwa A, Ocaya H, Pabire WG. Microplastic pollution in surface water of Lake Victoria. Science of the Total Environment 2020;741:Article No. 140201.
Fan Y, Zheng K, Zhu Z, Chen G, Peng X. Distribution, sedimentary record, and persistence of microplastics in the Pearl River catchment, China. Environmental Pollution 2019;251:862-70.
Garcés-Ordóñez O, Castillo-Olaya VA, Granados-Briceño AF, Blandón García LM, Espinosa Díaz LF. Marine litter and microplastic pollution on mangrove soils of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019;145:455-62.
Garcia KB, Malabrigo PL, Gevaña DT. Philippines’ Mangrove ecosystem: Status, threats and conservation. In: Faridah-Hanum I, Latiff A, Hakeem K, Ozturk M, editors. Mangrove Ecosystems of Asia. New York: Springer; 2013. p. 81-94.
Geyer R, Jambeck JR, Law KL. Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances 2017;3(7):e1700782.
Giri C, Ochieng E, Tieszen LL, Zhu Z, Singh A, Loveland T, et al. Status and distribution of mangrove forests of the world using earth observation satellite data. Global Ecology and Biogeography 2011;20(1):154-9.
Gomez NCF, Cragg SM, Ghiglione JF, Onda DFL. Accumulation and exposure classifications of plastics in the different coastal habitats in the western Philippine archipelago. Environmental Pollution 2023;337:Article No. 122602.
Govender J, Naidoo T, Rajkaran A, Cebekhulu S, Bhugeloo A, Sershen S. Towards characterising microplastic abundance, typology and retention in mangrove-dominated estuaries. Water (Basel) 2020;12(10):Article No. 2802.
Grand View Research. Polypropylene absorbent hygiene market size, share & trends analysis report by technology, by application (baby diapers, female hygiene products, adult incontinence products), by region, and segment forecasts [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Nov 6]. Available from: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ polypropylene-pp-absorbent-hygiene-market#.
Hakanson L. An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control.a sedimentological approach. Water Research 1980;14(8):975-1001.
Hidalgo-Ruz V, Gutow L, Thompson RC, Thiel M. Microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environmental Science and Technology Journal 2012;46(6):3060-75.
Inocente SAT, Gutierrez CS, Sison MPM, Madarcos JRV, Requiron JCM, Pacilan CJM, et al. Perception and awareness of marine plastic pollution in selected tourism beaches of Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism 2023;14(5):Article No. 2367.
Imhof HK, Laforsch C, Wiesheu AC, Schmid J, Anger PM, Niessner R, et al. Pigments and plastic in limnetic ecosystems: A qualitative and quantitative study on microparticles of different size classes. Water Research 2016;98:64-74.
Jones JI, Vdovchenko A, Cooling D, Murphy JF, Arnold A, Pretty JL, et al. Systematic analysis of the relative abundance of polymers occurring as microplastics in freshwaters and estuaries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020;17(24):Article No. 9304.
Jung MR, Horgen FD, Orski SV, Rodriguez CV, Beers KL, Balazs GH, et al. Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2018;127:704-16.
Kannahi M, Sudha P. Screening of polythene and plastic degrading microbes from Muthupet mangrove soil. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 2013;5(8):122-7.
Karami A, Golieskardi A, Choo CK, Romano N, Ho Y Bin, Salamatinia B. A high-performance protocol for extraction of microplastics in fish. Science of the Total Environment 2017;578:485-94.
Kowalski N, Reichardt AM, Waniek JJ. Sinking rates of microplastics and potential implications of their alteration by physical, biological, and chemical factors. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2016;109(1):310-9.
Lavers JL, Oppel S, Bond AL. Factors influencing the detection of beach plastic debris. Marine Environmental Research 2016;119:245-51.
Leslie HA, van Velzen MJM, Brandsma SH, Vethaak AD, Garcia-Vallejo JJ, Lamoree MH. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International 2022;163:Article No. 107199.
Li R, Yu L, Chai M, Wu H, Zhu X. The distribution, characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics in the mangroves of Southern China. Science of the Total Environment 2020a;708:Article No. 135025.
Li R, Zhang S, Zhang L, Yu K, Wang S, Wang Y. Field study of the microplastic pollution in sea snails (Ellobium chinense) from mangrove forest and their relationships with microplastics in water/sediment located on the north of Beibu Gulf. Environmental Pollution 2020b;263:Article No. 114368.
Lima ARA, Barletta M, Costa MF, Ramos JAA, Dantas DV, Melo PAMC, et al. Changes in the composition of ichthyoplankton assemblage and plastic debris in mangrove creeks relative to moon phases. Journal of Fish Biology 2016;89(1):619-40.
Lithner D, Larsson Å, Dave G. Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition. Science of the Total Environment 2011; 409(18):3309-24.
Liu S, Chen H, Wang J, Su L, Wang X, Zhu J, et al. The distribution of microplastics in water, sediment, and fish of the Dafeng River, a remote river in China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2021a;228:Article No. 113009.
Liu X, Liu H, Chen L, Wang X. Ecological interception effect of mangroves on microplastics. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2022b;423:Article No. 127231.
Manalo H, Manalo MaR. Slave to sachet economy: Socio-cultural insights. Transnational Marketing Journal 2022;10(1):103-18.
Martin C, Baalkhuyur F, Valluzzi L, Saderne V, Cusack M, Almahasheer H, et al. Exponential increase of plastic burial in mangrove sediments as a major plastic sink. Science Advances 2020;6(44):Article No. eaaz5593.
Masura J, Baker JE, Foster G, Arthur C. Laboratory Methods for the Analysis of Microplastics in the Marine Environment. Maryland: NOAA Marine Debris Division; 2015.
Meera SP, Bhattacharyya M, Nizam A, Kumar A. A review on microplastic pollution in the mangrove wetlands and microbial strategies for its remediation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2022;29(4):4865-79.
Nabizadeh R, Sajadi M, Rastkari N, Yaghmaeian K. Microplastic pollution on the Persian Gulf shoreline: A case study of Bandar Abbas City, Hormozgan Province, Iran. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019;145:536-46.
Naik RK, Naik MM, D’Costa PM, Shaikh F. Microplastics in ballast water as an emerging source and vector for harmful chemicals, antibiotics, metals, bacterial pathogens and HAB species: A potential risk to the marine environment and human health. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019;149:Article No. 110525.
Naji A, Nuri M, Amiri P, Niyogi S. Small microplastic particles (S-MPPs) in sediments of mangrove ecosystem on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019;146:305-11.
Navarro CKP, Arcadio CGLA, Similatan KM, Inocente SAT, Banda MHT, Capangpangan RY, et al. Unraveling microplastic pollution in mangrove sediments of Butuan Bay, Philippines. Sustainability 2022a;14(21):Article No. 14469.
Navarro CKP, Arcadio CGL, Capangpangan RYC, Bacosa HP. Evidence of Microplastic Uptake by Mud Clam (Polymesoda Erosa) in the Mangrove Sediments of Butuan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines. SSRN [Internet]. 2024b [cited 2024 Jul 18]; Available from: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? abstract_id=4711726.
Nor NHM, Obbard JP. Microplastics in Singapore’s coastal mangrove ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2014;79(1-2):278-83.
Osorio ED, Tanchuling MAN, Diola MaBLD. Microplastics occurrence in surface waters and sediments in five river mouths of Manila Bay. Frontiers in Environmental Science 2021;9:Article No. 719274.
Pan Z, Sun Y, Liu Q, Lin C, Sun X, He Q, et al. Riverine microplastic pollution matters: A case study in the Zhangjiang River of Southeastern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020;159:Article No. 111516.
Parolini M, Stucchi M, Ambrosini R, Romano A. A global perspective on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine organisms. Ecological Indicators 2023;149(1):Article No. 110179.
Peng G, Xu P, Zhu B, Bai M, Li D. Microplastics in freshwater river sediments in Shanghai, China: A case study of risk assessment in mega-cities. Environmental Pollution 2018;234:448-56.
Prarat P, Hongsawat P, Chouychai B. Microplastic occurrence in surface sediments from coastal mangroves in Eastern Thailand: Abundance, characteristics, and ecological risk implications. Regional Studies in Marine Science 2024; 71:Article No. 103389.
Ragusa A, Svelato A, Santacroce C, Catalano P, Notarstefano V, Carnevali O, et al. Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International 2021; 146:Article No. 106274.
Rodríguez-Seijo A, Pereira R. Chapter 3 - Morphological and Physical Characterization of Microplastics. In: Rocha-Santos TAP, Duarte AC, editors. Characterization and Analysis of Microplastics. Elsevier; 2017. p. 49-66.
Ronda AC, Menéndez MC, Tombesi N, Álvarez M, Tomba JP, Silva LI, et al. Microplastic levels on sandy beaches: Are the effects of tourism and coastal recreation really important? Chemosphere 2023;316:Article No. 137842.
Rose D, Webber M. Characterization of microplastics in the surface waters of Kingston Harbour. Science of the Total Environment 2019;664:753-60.
Santana-Viera S, Montesdeoca-Esponda S, Guedes-Alonso R, Sosa-Ferrera Z, Santana-Rodríguez JJ. Organic pollutants adsorbed on microplastics: Analytical methodologies and occurrence in oceans. Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry 2021;29:e00114.
Sayed AEDH, Hamed M, Badrey AEA, Ismail RF, Osman YAA, Osman AGM, et al. Microplastic distribution, abundance, and composition in the sediments, water, and fishes of the Red and Mediterranean Seas, Egypt. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2021;173:Article No. 112966.
ScienceStruck. Types of Polyamides and their Applications [Internet]. n.d. [cited 2023 Nov 6]. Available from: https://sciencestruck.com/types-of-polyamides-their-applications.
Similatan KM, Arcadio CGLA, Navarro CKP, Capangpangan RY, Bacosa HP. Microplastic ingestion by adult milkfish Chanos chanos (Forsskål, 1775) in aquaculture system: The case of Butuan Bay, Philippines. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2023;194:Article No. 115409.
SpecialChem. Key Areas of Applications of Polypropylene [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2023 Nov 6]. Available from: https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/ polypropylene-pp-plastic/key-applications.
Statista. Global Production of Plastics Since 1950 [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2023 Nov 5]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/ statistics/282732/global-production-of-plastics-since-1950/.
Su L, Cai H, Kolandhasamy P, Wu C, Rochman CM, Shi H. Using the Asian clam as an indicator of microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Pollution 2018b; 234:347-55.
Su L, Xue Y, Li L, Yang D, Kolandhasamy P, Li D, et al. Microplastics in Taihu Lake, China. Environmental Pollution 2016a;216:711-9.
Syversen T, Lilleng G. Microplastics derived from commercial fishing activities. In: Salama ES, editor. Advances and Challenges in Microplastics. IntechOpen; 2022.
Tien C, Wang Z, Chen CS. Microplastics in water, sediment and fish from the Fengshan River system: Relationship to aquatic factors and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by fish. Environmental Pollution 2020;265:Article No. 114962.
Tomlinson DL, Wilson JG, Harris CR, Jeffrey DW. Problems in the assessment of heavy-metal levels in estuaries and the formation of a pollution index. Helgoländer Meeresunter-Suchungen 1980;33(1-4):566-75.
Vlasopoulos A, Malinauskaite J, Żabnieńska-Góra A, Jouhara H. Life cycle assessment of plastic waste and energy recovery. Energy 2023;277:Article No. 127576.
Wang T, Zou X, Li B, Yao Y, Zang Z, Li Y, et al. Preliminary study of the source apportionment and diversity of microplastics: Taking floating microplastics in the South China Sea as an example. Environmental Pollution 2019;245:965-74.
Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS. The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: A review. Environmental Pollution 2013;178:483-92.
Yang T, Zeng Y, Kang Z, Cai M, Chen K, Zhao Q, et al. Enrichment and ecological risks of microplastics in mangroves of southern Hainan Island, China. Science of the Total Environment 2023;889:Article No. 164160.
Zantis LJ, Carroll EL, Nelms SE, Bosker T. Marine mammals and microplastics: A systematic review and call for standardisation. Environmental Pollution 2021;269:Article No. 116142.
Zhang L, Zhang S, Guo J, Yu K, Wang Y, Li R. Dynamic distribution of microplastics in mangrove sediments in Beibu Gulf, South China: Implications of tidal current velocity and tidal range. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2020;399:Article No. 122849.
Zhou Q, Tu C, Fu C, Li Y, Zhang H, Xiong K, et al. Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in the coastal mangrove sediments of China. Science of the Total Environment 2020;703:Article No. 134807.