Preliminary Study on Abundance of Microplastic in Sediments and Water Samples Along the Coast of Pakistan (Sindh and Balochistan)-Northern Arabian Sea

Abstract

Plastic material dominates our life and accordingly, it dominates the environment as a pollutant. Pakistan coasts are facing with plastic pollution problem like the rest of the world. The number and types of microplastics found in sea water and sediment samples from 25 locations along the Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan were explored in this study. The results of the present study show that the region is under a high pollution from microplastics. Microplastic abundance in seawater was found as mean 582.12±246.14 particle. L-1 and in sediment samples was mean 987.40±617.06 particle.kg-1 dry sediment. Microplastic concentration was maximum in Manora both seawater and sediment samples. Fibers were major contribution to total microplastics, up to 99% of all samples both seawater and sediment samples.