Occurrence of macroplastics on selected beach areas in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Islands, Philippines

Paper Details

Research Paper 06/09/2024
Views (100) Download (19)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Occurrence of macroplastics on selected beach areas in Surigao Del Norte and Dinagat Islands, Philippines

Medielyn M. Odtojan, Leonielyn G. Malicay
J. Bio. Env. Sci.25( 3), 102-108, September 2024.
Certificate: JBES 2024 [Generate Certificate]

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.

VIEWS 73

Acot Jr FT, Sajorne RE, Omar NAK, Suson PD, Rallos LEE, Bacosa HP. 2022. Unraveling macroplastic pollution in rural and urban beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10(10), 1532.

Barboza LGA, Cózar A, Gimenez BC, Barros TL, Kershaw PJ, Guilhermino L. 2019. Macroplastics pollution in the marine environment. In World seas: An environmental evaluation (pp. 305-328). Academic Press.

Esquinas GGMS, Mantala AP, Atilano MG, Apugan RP, Van Ryan Kristopher RG. 2020. Physical characterization of litter and microplastic along the urban coast of Cagayan de Oro in Macajalar Bay, Philippines. Marine Pollution Bulletin 154, 111083.

Inocente SAT, Bacosa HP. 2022. Assessment of macroplastic pollution on selected tourism beaches of Barobo, Surigao Del Sur, Philippines. Journal of Marine and Island Cultures 11(1).

Löhr A, Savelli H, Beunen R, Kalz M, Ragas A, Van Belleghem F. 2017. Solutions for global marine litter pollution. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 28, 90-99.

Navarro CKP, Arcadio CGLA, Similatan KM, Inocente SAT, Banda MHT, Capangpangan RY, Torres AG, Bacosa HP. 2022. Unraveling microplastic pollution in mangrove sediments of Butuan Bay, Philippines. Sustainability 14(21), 14469.

Paler MKO, Tabañag IDF, Siacor FDC, Geraldino PJL, Walton MEM, Dunn C, Skov MW, Hiddink JG, Taboada EB. 2022. Elucidating the surface macroplastic load, types and distribution in mangrove areas around Cebu Island, Philippines and its policy implications. Science of The Total Environment 838, 156408.

Requiron JCM, Bacosa HP. 2022. Macroplastic transport and deposition in the environs of Pulauan River, Dapitan City, Philippines. Philippine Journal of Science 151(3), 1211-1220.

Ryan PG, Weideman EA, Perold V, Moloney CL. 2020. Toward balancing the budget: Surface macro-plastics dominate the mass of particulate pollution stranded on beaches. Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 575395.

Sajorne RE, Bacosa HP, Cayabo GDB, Ardines Jr LB, Sumeldan JD, Omar JM, Creencia LA. 2021. Plastic litter pollution along sandy beaches in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines. Marine Pollution Bulletin 169, 112520.

Taïbi NE, Bentaallah MEA, Alomar C, Compa M, Deudero S. 2021. Micro-and macro-plastics in beach sediment of the Algerian western coast: First data on distribution, characterization, and source. Marine Pollution Bulletin 165, 112168.

Van Emmerik T, Van Klaveren J, Meijer LJ, Krooshof JW, Palmos DAA, Tanchuling MA. 2020. Manila river mouths act as temporary sinks for macroplastic pollution. Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 545812.

Van Ryan Kristopher RG, Jaraula CMB, Paler MKO. 2021. The nexus of macroplastic and microplastic research and plastic regulation policies in the Philippines marine coastal environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 167, 112343.

Vlachogianni T, Fortibuoni T, Ronchi F, Zeri C, Mazziotti C, Tutman P, Varezić DB, Palatinus A, Trdan Š, Peterlin M, Mandić M. 2018. Marine litter on the beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas: An assessment of their abundance, composition and sources. Marine Pollution Bulletin 131, 745-756.