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Assessing microplastic presence and distribution in sandy beaches: a case study of the Gulf of Tunis coastline
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A seasonal survey of Gulf of Tunis beach sediments found microplastic concentrations ranging from 109 particles/kg in summer to 531 particles/kg in winter, with polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymers and higher accumulation in upper beach and dune zones than in wave-exposed foreshores. These findings reveal how beach morphology and seasonal dynamics shape microplastic distribution at a major entry point for litter into the Mediterranean marine system.
Marine plastic pollution is a major concern due to its increasing occurrence in the environment. Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most significant solid waste pollutants in the marine environment, and they accumulate in sediments. Tunisian beaches are particularly vulnerable as they are known to be areas of accumulation and one of the main entry points for litter into the marine system. In this study, the spatial and seasonal abundance, littoral distribution, polymer type, size, and color of microplastics were investigated in sediment samples collected along the Gulf of Tunis. MPs were extracted, counted, and sorted by microscopy; the chemical composition was identified by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Seasonal variability was observed in particle distribution between the winter and summer campaigns. Total abundances ranged from 109 particles during the summer period to 531 particles/kg during the winter period, where fragments, filaments and fibers were the most frequent types of MPs. During both sampling campaigns, the beaches showed variation in the distribution of microplastics. The foreshore, which is exposed to wave movements, had low microplastic concentrations, while the upper beach and dunes accumulated high percentages of microplastics. Identification of microplastics by FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the most dominant polymer is polyethylene (PE), followed by polypropylene (PP), which are most used in water bottles and bags.
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Characterization and distribution of microplastics on the beaches of Southern Tunisia: a case study of the Island of Djerba
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Researchers analyzed microplastics in sediments from eight beaches on Djerba Island, Tunisia, finding concentrations up to 127 particles per kilogram with the highest accumulation in dune zones, and polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the dominant polymers. The spatial variation linked to tourism, fishing, and urban runoff illustrates how local human activities shape microplastic distribution in coastal Mediterranean environments.
Toward a Method of Assessing Microplastic Accumulation in Beach Sand Deposits
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Researchers tested four saline density separation solutions to develop a low-cost method for extracting and quantifying microplastics from beach sand, achieving recovery rates of 61–78% for coarse particles across six plastic types. Standardizing affordable extraction methods is a critical step toward generating comparable microplastic concentration data across global beach environments.
Quantification and Identification of Marine Litter on Five Beaches of the North-Central Algerian Coast
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Researchers quantified and identified marine litter on five beaches along Algeria's north-central coast, finding plastic fragments and fishing gear dominate the debris, with significant accumulation driven by inadequate waste management. Beach litter surveys in understudied African coastal regions are essential for building a complete global picture of plastic pollution sources and the pathways through which macroplastics degrade into microplastics.
The First Evaluation of Microplastics in Sediments from the Complex Lagoon-Channel of Bizerte (Northern Tunisia)
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Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastics in sediments from the Bizerte lagoon-channel in Tunisia, finding concentrations of 3–18 items per gram dominated by fibers from fishing and urban discharge, identifying this coastal site as a microplastic hotspot with implications for seafood safety.
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