Occurrence of macroplastics on selected beach areas in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Islands, Philippines
Paper Details
Occurrence of macroplastics on selected beach areas in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Islands, Philippines
Abstract
Beaches that provide recreational services are becoming seriously threatened by the presence of plastic litter. Their build-up in beach areas comes from different sources, such as recreational activities, improper solid waste management, the behavior of the nearby residents, and ocean currents carrying plastic waste from distant locations. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the macroplastics or plastic litter present in selected beaches in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Island and to determine the clean coast index per area. A 50-meter line transect was laid out in each station parallel to the shoreline with three (3) quadrats measuring 4×4 m located at 0-4 m, 23-37 m, and 46-50 m, and three stations were established in each sampling site. A visual identification of the type of plastic was done and the clean coast index (CCI) was then calculated to qualitatively describe the quality or the cleanliness of each beach. As a result, Mabua Beach in Surigao City (n=136) was found to have the most number of plastic litters, while Duyos Beach (n=56) had the least count. HIPS which is composed mostly of food packing dominated the beaches of Surigao del Norte, while HDPE is in Dinagat Islands. Humans are the major contributors to the plastic litter found on the beaches of Surigao and Dinagat. Mitigating the microplastic pollution on the beaches of Surigao and Dinagat requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach that involves raising awareness, improving waste management systems, implementing policies, and fostering community participation.
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Medielyn M. Odtojan, Leonielyn G. Malicay, 2024. Occurrence of macroplastics on selected beach areas in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Islands, Philippines. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 25(3), 102-108.
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