Analysis of the environmental and socio-economic factors together with suspected microplastic concentration for sediment showed total metropolitan population (p < 0.001), accumulative aquaculture (p <0.001), rainfall (p < 0.001), and end member contribution (p < 0.01) to be the most significant explanatory variables. The model had an AIC of 106.57 (adjusted r 2 = 0.63, p < 0.001). Total metropolitan population (coefficient: 2.56 x 10 -06 ± 5.69