TYPE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN BEACH SEDIMENT ALONG THE COAST OF PHETCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

A study of contamination, type and distribution of microplastics in beach sediment of the coast of Phetchaburi Province was conducted. Four sampling stations were carried out as follows: 1) Puek Tian Beach, 2) North Cha-am Beach, 3) South Cha-am Beach and 4) Rama 6 Beach. The data collection and sample identification methods were applied according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Protocol, and then the particle characterization was performed using FTIR. All the 4 stations were found to be contaminated with microplastics. In the dry season, North Cha-am Beach showed the most occorrence of microplastic debris = 370±105 pieces/square meter (pcs/m2) followed by Puek Tian Beach = 342±136 pcs/m2, South Cha-am Beach = 299±160 pcs/m2, and Rama 6 Beach = 35±20 pcs/m2. In the rainy season the most contaminated microplastics were found at South Cha-Am Beach = 3516±1603 pcs/m2 followed by North Cha-Am Beach = 1915±850 pcs/m2, Puktien Beach = 628±180 pcs/m2 and Rama 6 Beach = 4±2 pcs/m2. Eight types of microplastic contamination were found. The most common microplastic type found was Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), followed by Polyethylene (PE) at 2,403 and 1,163 pcs/m2 respectively with the size range of 300-1,000 micrometers.