Assessment of Marine Debris and Plastic Polymer Types Along the Panvel Creek, Navi Mumbai, West Coast of India

Abstract

Marine debris was collected monthly from substations along Panvel creek from May 2020 to April 2021 and was analyzed for types of non-plastic debris and plastic debris. Plastic debris was assessed for % composition of a type of plastic, plastic polymer and further categorized according to plastic code, acronym, full name and common examples. Non-plastic debris of 8 types representing 38 items were recorded. Consumer and manufactured items like glass and plastic bottles, cans, bags, rubber, metal, fiberglass, cigarettes, fishing gears etc. were observed. 8 types of polymers representing 65 items were recorded along Panvel creek. Plastic polymers like Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE/PET), High density polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Low density polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PE), Polystyrene (PS), Polyamide/Nylon, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polyurethane (PU) were recorded. 13 items belongs to Plastic code 2:HDPE, 12 to 3:PVC, 11 to 5:PP, 9 to 6:PS, 8 to 4:LDPE, 6 to 1:PETE/PET and 3 each to 7:PA and Other and 8:PU, respectively, were documented. Maximum % composition (20.00%) of HDPE, and minimum (4.61%) of PA and Other and PU, respectively was recorded. Higher content of debris recorded is attributed to the disposal of domestic wastes intentionally or unintentionally into the creek and also for disposal of scrap materials from the fishing crafts. Higher HDPE content is attributed to the wastes released from the fishing vessels and also to the domestic and municipal wastes. At present the Panvel creek is moderately polluted and 3R i.e. reduce, reuse and recycling is the current solution to the overuse of plastics.