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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AUSMAP's highest microplastic loads.
AUSMAP South australia
Highest Microplastic loads in australia
The highest microplastic loads nationally, have been identified across northern Adelaide, with Extreme concentrations found around West Lakes and wetlands Port Adelaide.
Samples collected at Tiranna Reserve and Blackdragon Beach, West Lakes, have exceeded loads of 35,000 mp/m2 since 2019, measuring Extreme on AUSMAP’s grading scale. As a semi-enclosed estuarine system, the West Lakes accumulate microplastic waste from industrial and urban activities up-catchment.
Sampling at seven sites along the Port River showed concentrations ranging from 0 mp/m2 at Club Beach, to over 750,000 mp/m2 at Carp Pond on the edge of the Barker Wetlands - the highest loads of microplastics found nationally. Analysis of these samples showed that they were dominated by industrial pellets and hard fragments, referred to as ‘shards’ - from industrial processing of larger plastic items. These excessive loads indicate significant, and ongoing, mismanagement of plastics factories in the upper catchment areas. Read more about this here.
Change in microplastic loads at
Manly Cove (2018-2024)
WHat we find
AUSMAP microplastic samples are analysied by classification of the type of microplastics found. Microplastic type identification allows understanding of potential sources of microplastic pollution.
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AUSMAP defines microplastic types as “Hard Fragments”, “Foam”, “Fibre”, “Pellet”, “Film”, Synthetic Grass” and “other”. The categorisation of such types are determined through a manual, visual identification process.
What are the trends?
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Manly Cove data break down
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Urgent Action is needed.
AUSMAP’s data on Manly Cove exemplifies the wider issue of plastic pollution and underscore the need for targeted actions and policies to address the root causes of microplastic pollution. Once microplastics enter the ocean, they are exceedingly difficult to remove, making prevention at the source the most effective solution. Stronger regulatory protections, coupled with efforts to reduce plastic use and improve waste handling, are essential to protect marine ecosystems and mitigate the long-term impacts of plastic pollution.
