Microplastics in marine beach and seabed sediments along the coasts of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania

Amina Asiya Nchimbi; Daniel  Shilla; Charles Mitto Kosore; Dativa Joseph Shilla; Yvonne Shashoua; Farhan R. Khan

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114305

Microplastics in marine beach and seabed sediments along the coasts of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania

Amina Asiya Nchimbi, Daniel Shilla, Charles Mitto Kosore, Dativa Joseph Shilla, Yvonne Shashoua, Farhan R. Khan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the marine environment has been one of the biggest challenge in developing countries due to a lack of proper solid waste management strategies. This study reports the distribution and types of MPs in beach and seabed zones of the Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar coasts. A total of 641 MPs were identified across all sites, of which 84 % and 16 % originated from beach and seabed sediments, respectively. Fragment and fibers were the most common types in both seabed and beach zone confirming the secondary sources of the MPs. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), revealed four types of polymers with polyethylene (PE) (56%) and polyester (PS) (24 %) being the most common. Microplastics were more abundant on beaches than in seabed zone. A larger abundance of PE and PS reveals a wide range of MPs entering the Ocean.

Original language	English
Article number	114305
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	185
Issue number	Part A
ISSN	0025-326X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114305
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2022

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114305

Cite this

@article{7be93bc113614bb2aa5be66650d073ff,

title = "Microplastics in marine beach and seabed sediments along the coasts of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania",

abstract = "Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the marine environment has been one of the biggest challenge in developing countries due to a lack of proper solid waste management strategies. This study reports the distribution and types of MPs in beach and seabed zones of the Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar coasts. A total of 641 MPs were identified across all sites, of which 84 % and 16 % originated from beach and seabed sediments, respectively. Fragment and fibers were the most common types in both seabed and beach zone confirming the secondary sources of the MPs. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), revealed four types of polymers with polyethylene (PE) (56%) and polyester (PS) (24 %) being the most common. Microplastics were more abundant on beaches than in seabed zone. A larger abundance of PE and PS reveals a wide range of MPs entering the Ocean.",

author = "Nchimbi, {Amina Asiya} and Daniel Shilla and Kosore, {Charles Mitto} and Shilla, {Dativa Joseph} and Yvonne Shashoua and Khan, {Farhan R.}",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114305",

language = "English",

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journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Microplastics in marine beach and seabed sediments along the coasts of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania

AU - Nchimbi, Amina Asiya

AU - Shilla, Daniel

AU - Kosore, Charles Mitto

AU - Shilla, Dativa Joseph

AU - Shashoua, Yvonne

AU - Khan, Farhan R.

PY - 2022/12/1

Y1 - 2022/12/1

N2 - Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the marine environment has been one of the biggest challenge in developing countries due to a lack of proper solid waste management strategies. This study reports the distribution and types of MPs in beach and seabed zones of the Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar coasts. A total of 641 MPs were identified across all sites, of which 84 % and 16 % originated from beach and seabed sediments, respectively. Fragment and fibers were the most common types in both seabed and beach zone confirming the secondary sources of the MPs. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), revealed four types of polymers with polyethylene (PE) (56%) and polyester (PS) (24 %) being the most common. Microplastics were more abundant on beaches than in seabed zone. A larger abundance of PE and PS reveals a wide range of MPs entering the Ocean.

AB - Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the marine environment has been one of the biggest challenge in developing countries due to a lack of proper solid waste management strategies. This study reports the distribution and types of MPs in beach and seabed zones of the Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar coasts. A total of 641 MPs were identified across all sites, of which 84 % and 16 % originated from beach and seabed sediments, respectively. Fragment and fibers were the most common types in both seabed and beach zone confirming the secondary sources of the MPs. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), revealed four types of polymers with polyethylene (PE) (56%) and polyester (PS) (24 %) being the most common. Microplastics were more abundant on beaches than in seabed zone. A larger abundance of PE and PS reveals a wide range of MPs entering the Ocean.

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114305

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114305

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 185

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

IS - Part A

M1 - 114305

ER -