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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
Quantification of microfibre levels in South Africa's beach sediments, and evaluation of spatial and temporal
1Centre for Coastal Paleoscience, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa.
Abstract:
The microfibre content of beach sediment samples was established at 175 sampling sites along over 2700 km of South Africa's coastline in 2016 and again in 2017. The average microfibre content was 80 ± 102 F/dm3 in Feb/March 2017 (n = 161), and 87 ± 84 F/dm3 in May/June 2016 (n = 128). These average values, and the observed ranges of 0 to 797 F/dm3 in 2017 and 4 to 772 F/dm3 in 2016, are consistent with global observations. The highest microfibre levels were observed at sampling sites close to large coastal waste water treatment work discharge points. Several instances of temporal variability are observed, only some of which can be associated with seasonal changes in river runoff. This baseline data set is a valuable reference point for identification of priority study sites for more detailed study of marine ecosystem response to microfibre pollution.
