Microplastic pollution impact on the Gulf of Thailand: insights from water samples assessment and ingestion by zooplankton as complementary tools
| Project/Area Number |
22K21328
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
1101:Environmental analyses and evaluation, environmental conservation measure and related fields
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
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| Project Status |
Granted (Fiscal Year 2022)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
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| Keywords | microplastics / zooplankton / ingestion / Gulf of Thailand / Plastic / Marine / Microplastics / Zooplankton / Ingestion |
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| Outline of Research at the Start |
One way to reduce plastic pollution is by detecting main hotspots and reducing their primary sources. More studies are needed to improve our understanding of microplastics' presence and impact on marine systems. Information is required for developing accurate policies, particularly considering the new global agreement to abate plastic pollution.
Therefore, this study aims to understand microplastic abundance and characteristics in the Gulf of Thailand. Also, to determine the exposure of zooplankton organisms to microplastic ingestion and determine the exposition risk of their predators.
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Throughout the first year of the project, I successfully conducted a total of six sampling campaigns on Si Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand from August 2022 to April 2023. These campaigns were designed to collect zooplankton and water samples with the aim of investigating the presence and ingestion of microplastics in the region. Sampling was carried out during different seasons, including wet, intermediate, and dry, and at varying tidal intervals (spring and neap tides), with a one to two-week gap between each sampling.
In addition to my research efforts, I have actively participated in several collaborative initiatives related to microplastic analysis. These include SEAFDEC, EuroQCharm, and GLPM projects, all of which aim to harmonize microplastic analysis methodologies on an international scale. By collaborating with these initiatives, I have contributed to the development of standardized methods for analyzing microplastics, which will enhance the quality and comparability of research findings across different regions and studies.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Based on the information provided, the project appears to be making good progress towards its goals. To the date, the pre-processing on 70% of the collected samples to identify the microplastic composition in both water and zooplankton was completed. This pre-processing involved filtering the water to isolate suspended microplastics, as well as analyzing the abundance and identification of zooplankton species. This is a significant achievement, especially given the extensive sampling campaigns carried out across different seasons and tides.Based on the preliminary findings, I am developing two manuscripts. Additionally, I plan to present the preliminary results at the upcoming JpGU meeting in Tokyo, Japan (oral presentation), which suggests that the research is yielding valuable insights.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Regarding future promotion measures for this research project, it is important to consider external dissemination strategies by publish the research outcomes in high-impact scientific journals and present their findings at relevant conferences and workshops.
To ensure the successful completion of the project, attention will be paid to any potential issues or changes that may arise in the second year of the research plan. Ultimately, I am committed to completing this research project in a rigorous, comprehensive, and timely manner.
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Report
(1 results)
Research Products
(5 results)
