A new design of sampling device was developed and used for the assessment of microplastics in the floating plastic debris of the water channel flowing from the creek towards the sea. During the intermonsoon period (April to May), the collection using the sampling device showed over 106 microplastic particles with 9.9 g weight during the low tide conditions. A lesser number and amount of microplastic was recorded (95 particles weighing 8.7 g) during the high tide conditions. The collected microplastics were dried, segregated, assessed, and classified into four major categories, namely: plastic fragments, microfibre, microbeads, and foamed plastics. In total, six samplings were carried out in the water channel and it was evident that the maximum number and the maximum weight (g) of microplastics corresponds to low tide (post-high tide) conditions. The present investigation reveals that an insignificant quantity of microplastics is carried to the sea from the landward side. It is concluded that the origin of the microplastics in the oceans is through fragmentation and degradation of macro-and megaplastic transported to the sea through inland water channels connected to the sea. The contribution of microplastics from the landscape surrounding the sea/oceans is negligible. It is emphasized that the magnitude of microplastic in the oceans can be reduced by preventing the entry of macro- and megaplastics from the landward side.

开发了一种新的采样装置设计，用于评估从小溪流向大海的水道中漂浮的塑料碎片中的微量塑料。在季风期间（4月至5月），在低潮条件下，使用采样装置进行的收集显示出106颗重9.9 g的微粒。在涨潮条件下，记录到数量更少，数量更少的微塑料（95个颗粒，重8.7 g）。将收集到的微塑料干燥，分离，评估并分为四个主要类别，即：塑料碎片，微纤维，微珠和泡沫塑料。总共在水道中进行了六个采样，很明显，微塑料的最大数量和最大重量（g）对应于低潮（高潮后）状况。本研究表明，微不足道的微量塑料是从陆地向海运送的。结论是，海洋中的微塑料起源于通过与海洋相连的内陆水道运往海洋的宏观和超大型塑料的破碎和降解。微塑料在海洋周围环境中的贡献可忽略不计。要强调的是，可以通过防止大塑料和大塑料从陆地向内进入来减少海洋中的微塑料的数量。结论是，海洋中的微塑料起源于通过与海洋相连的内陆水道运往海洋的宏观和超大型塑料的破碎和降解。微塑料在海洋周围环境中的贡献可忽略不计。要强调的是，可以通过防止大塑料和大塑料从陆地向内进入来减少海洋中的微塑料的数量。结论是，海洋中的微塑料起源于通过与海洋相连的内陆水道运往海洋的宏观和超大型塑料的破碎和降解。微塑料在海洋周围环境中的贡献可忽略不计。要强调的是，可以通过防止大塑料和大塑料从陆地向内进入来减少海洋中的微塑料的数量。