Does the Geographical Location of Hong Kong Beaches Affect the Amount of Microplastics Present?

Abstract:

Plastic is the single most common material found in households, workplaces, and schools. Out of all the materials that we use, plastics take the longest to break down. On average it takes 1,000 years for plastics to properly break down in landfills and in oceans, it can take up to 600 years. A single plastic product can break down into thousands of microplastics (MP), which are small plastic pieces under five millimeters long. MP poses a much larger health threat to the surrounding ecosystem and the living organisms than regular plastics as they can go undetected, contaminating water and food sources. The MPs that are washed up on the beaches are a small representation of the presence of plastic pollution in the ocean. Hong Kong is a coastal city in the South China Sea with over 450 miles of coastline. Beach sand samples from 4 different locations in Hong Kong were collected for MP analysis. Two beaches were selected for comparison, Little Palm Beach and Middle Island Beach. These beaches represent two of the “cleanest” beaches in the territory. There will be five samples from each beach along a transect line that is perpendicular to the waterline. Separation techniques used will be modified from the UN recommendations and chemical separation will use Potassium Carbonate. The amount of MP in the sand will be quantified, and the dimensions of the MP particles will be determined using an SEM microscope. When looking at the beaches with different MP levels and at different compass directions, we can begin to understand the directional nature and source of the original plastic flow from the bodies of water.