Microplastics in Hong Kong's marine waters: Impact of rainfall and Pearl River discharge

Kai Zhang; Michael C.Y. Cheng; Mengyang Liu; Shaopeng Xu; Yue Ma; Hoi Shan Chau; Luoluo Chen; Yaru Cao; Meng Yan; Xiangrong Xu; Wai Thoe; Sunny W.C. Sun; Ron R. Yang; Kenneth M.Y. Leung; Paul K.S. Lam

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116635

Microplastics in Hong Kong's marine waters: Impact of rainfall and Pearl River discharge

Kai Zhang, Michael C.Y. Cheng, Mengyang Liu, Shaopeng Xu, Yue Ma, Hoi Shan Chau, Luoluo Chen, Yaru Cao, Meng Yan, Xiangrong Xu, Wai Thoe, Sunny W.C. Sun, Ron R. Yang, Kenneth M.Y. Leung, Paul K.S. Lam

President's Office

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This study provided a systematic investigation of microplastics in Hong Kong's surface marine waters during the pandemic from 2019 to 2021. Microplastics (2.07 ± 4.00 particles/m³) exhibited significant temporal variations with higher abundance in the wet season, without a consistent trend after the mandatory mask-wearing requirement was announced. The impact of pandemic restrictions on microplastic distribution was found to be relatively minor. However, significant correlations between microplastic abundances and rainfall highlighted the substantial contribution of local emissions through surface runoff. Notably, sites in closer proximity to the Pearl River Delta exhibited higher microplastic abundances, indicating their association with emission sources. The influence of rainfall and adverse weather on marine microplastic loads demonstrated different sensitivities among various locations but can generally last for one month. These results revealed the impact of seasonal rainfall on coastal microplastics and emphasized the need for efforts to reduce microplastic discharge from land-based sources.

Original language	English
Article number	116635
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	205
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116635
Publication status	Published - Aug 2024

Keywords

Coastal waters
Plastic debris
Precipitation
Riverine input
Seasonal trend

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116635

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@article{db8485492f8a40c8b1da08b56891b65f,

title = "Microplastics in Hong Kong's marine waters: Impact of rainfall and Pearl River discharge",

abstract = "This study provided a systematic investigation of microplastics in Hong Kong's surface marine waters during the pandemic from 2019 to 2021. Microplastics (2.07 ± 4.00 particles/m3) exhibited significant temporal variations with higher abundance in the wet season, without a consistent trend after the mandatory mask-wearing requirement was announced. The impact of pandemic restrictions on microplastic distribution was found to be relatively minor. However, significant correlations between microplastic abundances and rainfall highlighted the substantial contribution of local emissions through surface runoff. Notably, sites in closer proximity to the Pearl River Delta exhibited higher microplastic abundances, indicating their association with emission sources. The influence of rainfall and adverse weather on marine microplastic loads demonstrated different sensitivities among various locations but can generally last for one month. These results revealed the impact of seasonal rainfall on coastal microplastics and emphasized the need for efforts to reduce microplastic discharge from land-based sources.",

keywords = "Coastal waters, Plastic debris, Precipitation, Riverine input, Seasonal trend",

author = "Kai Zhang and Cheng, {Michael C.Y.} and Mengyang Liu and Shaopeng Xu and Yue Ma and Chau, {Hoi Shan} and Luoluo Chen and Yaru Cao and Meng Yan and Xiangrong Xu and Wai Thoe and Sun, {Sunny W.C.} and Yang, {Ron R.} and Leung, {Kenneth M.Y.} and Lam, {Paul K.S.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2024",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116635",

language = "English",

volume = "205",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Microplastics in Hong Kong's marine waters

T2 - Impact of rainfall and Pearl River discharge

AU - Zhang, Kai

AU - Cheng, Michael C.Y.

AU - Liu, Mengyang

AU - Xu, Shaopeng

AU - Ma, Yue

AU - Chau, Hoi Shan

AU - Chen, Luoluo

AU - Cao, Yaru

AU - Yan, Meng

AU - Xu, Xiangrong

AU - Thoe, Wai

AU - Sun, Sunny W.C.

AU - Yang, Ron R.

AU - Leung, Kenneth M.Y.

AU - Lam, Paul K.S.

PY - 2024/8

Y1 - 2024/8

N2 - This study provided a systematic investigation of microplastics in Hong Kong's surface marine waters during the pandemic from 2019 to 2021. Microplastics (2.07 ± 4.00 particles/m3) exhibited significant temporal variations with higher abundance in the wet season, without a consistent trend after the mandatory mask-wearing requirement was announced. The impact of pandemic restrictions on microplastic distribution was found to be relatively minor. However, significant correlations between microplastic abundances and rainfall highlighted the substantial contribution of local emissions through surface runoff. Notably, sites in closer proximity to the Pearl River Delta exhibited higher microplastic abundances, indicating their association with emission sources. The influence of rainfall and adverse weather on marine microplastic loads demonstrated different sensitivities among various locations but can generally last for one month. These results revealed the impact of seasonal rainfall on coastal microplastics and emphasized the need for efforts to reduce microplastic discharge from land-based sources.

AB - This study provided a systematic investigation of microplastics in Hong Kong's surface marine waters during the pandemic from 2019 to 2021. Microplastics (2.07 ± 4.00 particles/m3) exhibited significant temporal variations with higher abundance in the wet season, without a consistent trend after the mandatory mask-wearing requirement was announced. The impact of pandemic restrictions on microplastic distribution was found to be relatively minor. However, significant correlations between microplastic abundances and rainfall highlighted the substantial contribution of local emissions through surface runoff. Notably, sites in closer proximity to the Pearl River Delta exhibited higher microplastic abundances, indicating their association with emission sources. The influence of rainfall and adverse weather on marine microplastic loads demonstrated different sensitivities among various locations but can generally last for one month. These results revealed the impact of seasonal rainfall on coastal microplastics and emphasized the need for efforts to reduce microplastic discharge from land-based sources.

KW - Coastal waters

KW - Plastic debris

KW - Precipitation

KW - Riverine input

KW - Seasonal trend

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85196785032&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116635

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116635

M3 - Article

C2 - 38936000

AN - SCOPUS:85196785032

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 205

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

M1 - 116635

ER -

Microplastics in Hong Kong's marine waters: Impact of rainfall and Pearl River discharge

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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