The present study aims to formulate the characterization and distribution of microplastic in the estuarine surface sediments of Kayamkulam estuary, southwest coast of India. The sediments were dominated by fibre and film shaped microplastic substances. The surface sediments were dominated by <1000 μm microplastics. The composition of microplastics in descending order was as follows: polyester > polypropylene > polyethylene. The distribution of microplastics was significantly higher than that observed in the other study regions, except for Pearl river estuary and Guanabara Bay. The distribution of microplastics was chiefly controlled by estuarine inundating water and the distance of the sampling site from the open sea.

本研究旨在阐述印度西南海岸卡亚姆库拉姆河口河口表层沉积物中的微塑性特征和分布。沉积物主要是纤维和薄膜状的微塑性物质。表面沉积物以<1000μm的微塑料为主。微塑料的组成按降序排列如下：聚酯>聚丙烯>聚乙烯。除珠江口和瓜纳巴拉湾外，微塑料的分布明显高于其他研究区域。微塑料的分布主要受河口淹没水和采样地点与公海的距离控制。