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Abundance and distribution of microplastics on sandy beaches of the eastern Moroccan Mediterranean coast

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2024 20 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Soria Azaaouaj, Soria Azaaouaj, Noureddine Er-Ramy, Soria Azaaouaj, Giorgio Anfuso, Soria Azaaouaj, Soria Azaaouaj, Soria Azaaouaj, Giorgio Anfuso, Noureddine Er-Ramy, Driss Nachite Driss Nachite Giorgio Anfuso, Giorgio Anfuso, Noureddine Er-Ramy, Giorgio Anfuso, Driss Nachite Driss Nachite Giorgio Anfuso, Giorgio Anfuso, Soria Azaaouaj, Giorgio Anfuso, Giorgio Anfuso, Giorgio Anfuso, Giorgio Anfuso, Noureddine Er-Ramy, Driss Nachite Soria Azaaouaj, Soria Azaaouaj, Giorgio Anfuso, Soria Azaaouaj, Giorgio Anfuso, Driss Nachite

Summary

Researchers surveyed 19 sandy beaches along the eastern Moroccan Mediterranean coast and found microplastic concentrations ranging from 40 to 230 particles per kilogram of sand. Fibers were the most common shape, making up about 75 percent of all particles found, with polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene as the dominant polymer types. The findings indicate a moderate level of microplastic contamination along this stretch of coastline.

Polymers

PE PP PS PVC

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) were investigated at 19 sandy beaches along the eastern Mediterranean Moroccan coast. Sediment samples (5 mm-63 μm) were analyzed to identify MPs abundance, size, shape, color and nature. MPs concentration ranged from 40 ± 7.4 to 230 ± 48.6 MPs kg<sup>-1</sup>; fibrous MPs were the most abundant (74.72 %), followed by fragments (20.26 %), films (3.27 %), pellets (1.42 %) and foams (0.33 %). Large MPs (1-5 mm) accounted for 58 %, while small (< 1 mm) for 42 %. The 1-2 mm fraction of sediments presented the greatest amounts (30.67 %) of MPs. Transparent (50 %) and blue (17 %) were most common colors and most of particles were angular and irregularly shaped. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that PE (Polyethylene), PS (Polystyrene) and PP (Polypropylene) and PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) were the most common polymers. These findings revealed a moderate level of microplastic pollution along the beaches of the eastern Moroccan Mediterranean coast.

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