Vertical distribution and river-sea transport of microplastics with tidal fluctuation in a subtropical estuary, China

The river-sea transport of microplastic with complex environmental conditions and diverse driving factors has received growing attention in the estuary. This research investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics in the water column and surface sediments and explored the effect of tidal variation on the transport of microplastics in Jiulong Estuary and Xiamen Bay, China. Results show that the microplastics in the estuary (630 +/- 515 mu m) was significantly larger than that in the bay (344 +/- 420 mu m, p 0.01). Low-density microplastics are present in the whole water column, while high-density microplastics was apt to accumulate in the bottom water and surface sediment suggesting biofouling and material density of microplastics synergistic affect its vertical distribution. Every 1-2 h high-frequency samples collected in a whole tide found the increase of fine size (45-300 mu m) and decrease of large size ( 300 mu m) in the flood tide, which implied fine microplastics were easily driven into the estuary from the bay at flood tide than large microplastics. The abundance of microplastics in the sediments decreased in the fast-rising and fast-falling period implies the tide influences the fragmentation and resuspension of microplastics in the estuary. Finally, the flux of microplastics entering Xiamen Bay was 53.5 t/month in the moderate flow month were estimated based on the abundance of different water layers instead of floating microplastics in the surface water.

Automated summary

This research investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics in the water column and surface sediments in Jiulong Estuary and Xiamen Bay, and explored the impact of tidal variation on microplastic transport. The study found that microplastics in the estuary were significantly larger than those in the bay, and their vertical distribution was affected by tidal variation.