From Macro to Micro: Comprehensive coastal litter analysis using portable NIR

The increasing production of plastic and mismanagement of plastic waste are contributing to increasing plastic pollution of all environments. In the last decade, many countries developed national strategies for monitoring litter in marine environment, which on beaches often include monitoring of macro- and/or microplastics. Understanding the dynamics between different size fractions in the environment is crucial for improved understanding of the plastic cycle. Challenges remain in connecting the information obtained from the existing monitoring strategies: detailed categorization of macro-litter based on the Joint List of Litter Categories developed by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Technical Group on Marine Litter and the analysis of microplastics from beach sediments, which usually includes the determination of morphological characteristics, colour, size and chemical composition. The determination of polymer types of plastic macro litter is not part of the existing monitoring. Additionally, meso litter, covering size ranges between macro and micro, is often not investigated. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of beach litter in Slovenia that focuses on all three size classes of litter: macro, meso and micro. In addition, the study evaluates the applicability and effectiveness of using a portable near-infrared (NIR) device to identify the polymer types of macro- and mesoplastic litter. This innovative approach could improve the accuracy and efficiency of litter categorization and contribute to a more accurate understanding of the composition, dynamics and sources of plastic pollution in coastal areas. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559476/document