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Study of Microplastic Contamination in Soil, Seawater, Seagrass, and Carbon Sequestration in Soil and Seagrass at Pak Klong Beach and Mod Tanoi Beach, Trang Province

Organization(s):Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Trang
Country:Thailand
Student(s):Mr. Jitpraphat Chanakul Mr. Phakhin Chantayothin
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Educator(s):PACHAREE CHAIPETCH
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Carbon Cycle, Land Cover Classification, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Salinity, Water Temperature, Soil Fertility, Soil pH
Presentation Video: View Video
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:03/05/2025
Seagrass plays a crucial role in carbon absorption and marine balance, especially for species like dugongs and sea turtles. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (2024) reports most seagrass in Trang is in fair condition. However, microplastic accumulation in Thai seas threatens seagrass due to plastic waste. This study examines microplastics in water, soil, and seagrass, comparing Pak Klong Beach (protected area) and Mod Tanoi Beach (fishing area), and explores the link between carbon storage and microplastics.
This research aims to study the amount of microplastics in the soil and water in different areas, including the quantity, size, shape, and color of microplastics in both the above-ground and below-ground parts of seagrass. It also compares the carbon storage capacity of the above-ground and below-ground parts of seagrass and examines differences in the carbon storage ability of the same species of seagrass in different locations. The study was conducted at Pak Klong Beach and Mod Tanoi Beach, where two species of seagrass were found at Pak Klong Beach, namely Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea serrulata, and one species at Modtanoy Beach, Thalassia hemprichii. The quality and quantity of microplastics in the water, soil, and seagrass were analyzed. The results of the study found that the above-ground part of Thalassia hemprichii contained the highest amount of microplastics, especially at Mod Tanoi Beach, where the microplastic sizes ranged from 1 mm to 20 micrometers. The shape of the microplastics was mainly long, and the color was predominantly black, which could have originated from plastic waste used in fishing activities in the area. The soil contained the highest concentration of microplastics, followed by seagrass and water, respectively. When studying the carbon storage capacity in seagrass, it was found that the below-ground part of seagrass had a higher carbon storage capacity than the above-ground part in both species. The carbon storage capacity of seagrass at Pak Klong Beach was higher than that at Mod Tanoi Beach. The amount of carbon stored in the seagrass was inversely related to the number of microplastics found in each area. Specifically, Pak Klong Beach had a higher carbon storage capacity than Mod Tanoi Beach, and the amount of microplastics found in the soil at Pak Klong Beach was lower than that at Mod Tanoi Beach. This difference can be attributed to Mod Tanoi Beach being a community area, resulting in a higher amount of microplastics found there compared to Pak Klong Beach.


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