Microplastic pollution in surface water of the Malaysian Marine Park Islands, South China Sea during COVID-19
Ku Mohd Kalkausar Ku Yusof1, Sabiqah Tuan Anuar1, Yuzwan Mohamad1, Maisarah Jaafar1, Noorlin Mohamad1, Zainudin Bachok2, Najihah Mohamad3, Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim1,2*

1Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
*yusofshuaib[at]umt.edu.my

2Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Fisheries Research Institute, 11960, Batu Maung, Penang Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia is bounded by the South China Sea with many islands that support species megadiversity and coral reef ecosystems. This study investigates the distribution of microplastics in the surface water around the four marine park islands (Perhentian, Redang, Kapas, and Tenggol) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhentian recorded the most abundance of microplastics (588.33 items per liter), followed by Redang (314.67 items per liter), Kapas (359.8 items per liter) and Tenggol (294.33 items per liter). Kruskal-Wallis analysis indicates a significant difference in total microplastic abundance between islands. There are moderate correlations between salinity, pH, and temperature and microplastics variability, however Principal Component Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression analysis proved that only temperature is significant. Fiber was profound with more than 99 percent, while transparent and black were dominant among the samples. Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy revealed Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyvinyl Methyl Ether, Polyamide, phenoxy-resins and Polyurethane-acrylic are associated with microplastics. This study present baseline reference on the distribution of microplastics in Malaysian islands, providing future direction on its marine sustainability.

Keywords: Islands of Malaysia, Terengganu, National Marine Park, SCS, Plastic Pandemic, Microplastics pollution

Topic: Aquatic Pollution and Ecotoxicology