A picture of plastic free Long Ke Wan in comparison with extremely polluted Fan Lau Tung Wan. MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN LITTORAL ENVIRONMENTS MARCH 6, 2015 By: Ozan Akyıldız, Paul Calamari, Zachary Sellman, & Stephanie Symecko IQP Division: 41 Advisor Code: SS7 Project Number: C155 Microplastic Pollution in Littoral Environments Title Page An Interactive Qualifying Project Report submitted to the faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science Sponsor: Hong Kong Institute of Education Submitted to: Project Liaison: Dr. Lincoln Fok, Professor at Hong Kong Institute of Education Project Advisor: Stephan Sturm, Professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Project Co-Advisor: Creighton Peet, Professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Submitted by: Ozan Akyıldız Paul Calamari Zachary Sellman Stephanie Symecko Date Submitted: March 6, 2015 i Abstract This project presents an assessment of the composition and severity of microplastic pollution on the beaches surrounding Hong Kong. Through comparison with similar data collected in summer months, and by surveying members of the HKIEd community, we identified the abundance, types and locations of microplastics and gauged the public’s awareness of the problem. These data sets allowed us to draw conclusions and make recommendations for the public of Hong Kong on how to better manage microplastic pollution. ii Acknowledgements Our project team would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the following people and organizations who aided us in the successful completion of this project: Doctor Lincoln Fok for sponsoring a WPI project team for the first time. We are grateful for the opportunity to take part in the research you are embarking on in Hong Kong. Paul Cheung for his frequent guidance throughout all stages of our project. Stephan Sturm and Creighton Peet, our advisors, who provided constant direction and feedback throughout the entirety of our project. Worcester Polytechnic Institute for providing us with the opportunity to further our studies through the Interactive Qualifying Project in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Institute of Education for allowing us to use their facilities, specifically the laboratories and lab equipment. Survey takers at HKIEd for being approachable and supportive of our project. iii Authorship Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….……Symecko Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………….….Symecko Authorship…………………………………………………………………………………….…….Symecko Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………….……..Akyıldız Table of Figures………………………………………………….………………………………..Calamari Table of Tables………………………………….………………………………………………...Calamari Executive Summary…………………………..……………….………………………………..Calamari 1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..…..Symecko, Akyıldız 2. Background……………………………………………………………………………….…….Sellman, Symecko 2.1. Plastics ……………………………………………………………………………………..Akyıldız 2.2. Marine Environments……………………………………………………………….Sellman 2.3. Microplastics……………………………………………………………………………Akyıldız 2.3.1. Quantification………………………………………………………………………….Akyıldız 2.3.2 Identification……………………………………………………………………………Akyıldız 2.3.3 Formation…………………………………………………………………………………Akyıldız 2.3.4 Effects on Marine Life and Human Health…………………………………Akyıldız 2.4. Mitigation……………………………………………….…………………………………Calamari 2.4.1. Government Policies World Wide……………………………………………...Calamari 2.4.2. Mitigation Efforts…………………………………….………………………………..Calamari 2.4.3. Practicality of Prevention…………………………………………………………..Calamari 2.5. Situation in Hong Kong………………………………………………………………Symecko 2.5.1. Policies and Regulations………………………………………………………….…Symecko 2.5.2. Education Efforts……………………………………………………………………….Symecko 3. Methods…………………………………………………………………………….………….....Symecko 3.1. Determining Types of Microplastics…………………………………………..…..Symecko 3.1.1. Determining Sample Locations…………………………………………………….Sellman, Symecko iv 3.1.2. Sampling Procedure…………………………………………………………………..…Sellman, Akyıldız 3.1.3. Laboratory Analysis………………………………………………………………………Sellman, Akyıldız 3.2. Determining Perceptions of Microplastics in Hong Kong…………………Symecko 3.3. Prevention…………………………………………………….……………………………….Calamari 3.4. Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………Symecko 4. Results and Analysis………………………………………………………………………….Calamari 4.1 Plastics Present……………………………………………………………………………….Sellman 4.2 Microplastic Pollution Level Differences Among Beaches……………….Symecko 4.2.1 San Shek Wan………………………………………………………………………………Symecko 4.2.2 Fan Lau Tung Wan……………………………………………………………………….Symecko 4.2.3 Tung Lung Island………………………………………………………………………….Symecko 4.2.4 Long Ke Wan………………………………………………………………………………..Sellman, Symecko 4.3 Microplastic Pollution Differences Between Summer and Winter……Symecko 4.4 Knowledge, Awareness, and Behavior………………….…………………………Sellman, Symecko 5. Conclusions and Recommendations………………..……………………………….Calamari 5.1 Conclusions……………………………………………………..……………………………..Calamari 5.2 Recommendations for Hong Kong……………………………..……………………Calamari 5.3 Recommendations for the Hong Kong Local Residents……………………Calamari 5.4 Recommendations for Future Research…………………………………………..Sellman 5.5 Summary………………………………………………………….………………………………Calamari References……………………………………………………………………………………………..All Appendix A: Sponsor……………………………………………………………………………….Akyıldız, Symecko Sponsoring Institution: Hong Kong Institute of Education……………………….Symecko, Akyıldız Sponsoring Liaison: Dr. Lincoln Fok (霍年亨) ………………………………………….Akyıldız Appendix B: Sampling Protocol………………………………………………………………..All Appendix C: Beach Survey Form…………………………………………………………..….All Appendix D: Survey………………………………………………………………………………..…Symecko v Appendix E: Beach Sampling Data………………………………………………………....…Sellman Appendix F: Survey Results Data………………………………………………………………Akyıldız Appendix G: FTIR Data………………………………………………………………………………Sellman Appendix H: Tung Lung Explanation…………………………………………………………Sellman Appendix I: Beach Quadrat Pictures……………………………………………………..….Sellman Appendix J: Beach Pictures………………………………………………………………..…….Sellman While completing the project Ozan Akyıldız, Paul Calamari, Zachary Sellman, and Stephanie Symecko all assisted with beach sampling, sorting, analyzing, and surveying. Ozan Akyıldız, Paul Calamari, Zachary Sellman and Stephanie Symecko each put particular emphasis on background research, report conclusions, data analysis, and report revisions respectively. vi Table of Contents Title Page ......................................................................................................................................... i Abstract............................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii Authorship ...................................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii Table of Tables................................................................................................................................ xi Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... xii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. Background ............................................................................................................................. 4 2.1. Plastics .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.2. Marine Environments ....................................................................................................... 5 2.3. Microplastics .................................................................................................................... 6 2.3.1. Measuring the extent of the problem ...................................................................... 7 2.3.2. Identification ............................................................................................................. 9 2.3.3. Formation ................................................................................................................ 10 2.3.4. Effects on Marine Life and Human Health .............................................................. 11 2.4. Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.4.1. Government Policies World Wide .......................................................................... 15 2.4.2. Mitigation Efforts .................................................................................................... 16 2.4.3. Practicality of Prevention ........................................................................................ 17 2.5. Situation in Hong Kong ................................................................................................... 17 2.5.1. Education Efforts ..................................................................................................... 20 3. Methods ................................................................................................................................ 21 3.1. Determining Types