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Seasonal and Cross-Shore Assessment of Large and Small Microplastics Collected on the Ferrara Coast (Italy)
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A seasonal survey of the Ferrara coastline in northern Italy found large microplastics (averaging 5.66 per square meter) and far more abundant small microplastics (averaging 2,402 per square meter), with concentrations lowest in winter and highest accumulation at dune foot and crest positions. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester dominated the larger particles, while small black fibers dominated the smaller fraction, likely from river and urban sources including plastic-processing industries near the Po River. This study contributes to understanding how microplastics distribute across beach profiles over time—useful for designing targeted cleanup interventions.
Microplastic (MP) contamination along coastlines is a globally recognized environmental concern. This paper investigates the seasonal and cross-shore distribution of large and small microplastics (LMPs and SMPs) at four sites along the Ferrara coast in the northern Adriatic Sea (Italy). A combination of sampling and analytical approaches was employed to characterize the typology, morphology, and size of MPs. A subsample of LMPs was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy to determine polymers’ composition. The mean abundances recorded were 5.66 ± 13.15 LMPs/m2 and 2402.19 ± 1169.85 SMPs/m2. Among the LMPs, pellets and fragments, essentially cream and white in color, were dominant. The samples were predominantly composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. SMPs primarily consisted of black fibers. LMPs and SMPs displayed their lowest abundances in winter and cross-shore patterns indicated preferential accumulation at dune foot and crest. Since the study sites are located downstream of the Po and Reno river mouths, urban and riverine discharges, as well as emissions from plastic-processing industries, are likely major contributors to the observed MPs.
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