M시 인근 개펄 내 미세플라스틱의 분포

Plastics, such as fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), from vessels, nets, ropes and buoys that are found in marine materialsare refined by various factors in the ocean. These microplastics are present in the surface, middle, deep and sedimentarylayers of the ocean depending on their physical and chemical properties. In this study, the distribution characteristics ofmicroplastics in mud flats are investigated and their sources are estimated. The highest percentage of microplasticsconsisted of blue paint fragments, which seemed to be paint from a ship. In addition, many fibrous microplastics werefound in the surface layer of the mud flats. These results suggest that low-density fibers are partially retained on the surfaceof mud flats during high and low tide. The differences in the amount and types of microplastics at the survey sites areconsidered to be influenced by the surrounding environment, such as fishing vessels and farms