Our microplastics research

Microplastic (MP) contamination in coastal areas and marine organisms is a growing field of research. However not much is known about MPs in coastal environments and invertebrates in southern Africa. The aim of my research is to:

1. assess characteristics and concentrations of MPs in coastal areas of the Western Cape (focusing on Cape Town), South Africa and

2. investigate the health effects of MPs on invertebrates by identifying potential biomarkers of MP toxicity.

The most important significance and outcome of the research is to gain an understanding of the abundances and types of MPs along the coast of SA so that it can provide management authorities with a baseline with which to mitigate the potential effects of MPs.

• To compare microplastic concentrations in various parts of coastal ecosystems in the Western Cape (catchment to coast analysis);

• To determine the concentrations of microplastics in invertebrates of coastal waters of the Western Cape, South Africa;

• To determine the concentrations of microplastics in marine resources as well as current and potential marine aquaculture organisms in South Africa;

• To measure ingestion, filtration and egestion rates of MPs in coastal invertebrates;

• To measure bioaccumulation efficiencies of MPs in coastal invertebrates;

• To measure the toxicity of MPs in coastal invertebrates by measuring contaminants (eg. metals and organics) potentially associated with MPs;

• To investigate potential biomarkers of MP toxicity in coastal invertebrates;