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Microplastic Particles in Sandy Beaches of Thessaloniki Gulf, Greece
Summary
Microplastic particles — fragments and fibers — were detected in beach sediments at three sampling locations along Thessaloniki Gulf in Greece, with higher concentrations near populated areas. The findings contribute to the growing documentation of microplastic contamination on Mediterranean beaches.
Microplastic pollution is a major issue for aquatic ecosystems. In this study, an assessment of microplastic pollution in beach sediments of Thessaloniki Gulf is presented. Sand sampling was performed in October 2021, in three different coastal areas along the seashore of Thessaloniki Gulf, in NW Aegean Sea. In total, nine sand samples were collected and examined. The morphology of the detected microplastics was recorded: they were fragments and microfibers. Their abundance ranged from 0-32 items/m3. Higher concentrations of microplastics were observed in Karabournaki Beach, located in the city of Thessaloniki. It is the second largest city in Greece, inhabited by about 1,5 million people. Regarding the color, black, red, blue, green, and transparent microplastic fragments were found. Black and blue particles were the most common. Chemical detection and identification were performed with FT-IR spectroscopy. Four polymers were detected: polyethylene (PE), terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Polyethylene terephthalate was the dominant identified polymer (50%). The need for plastic pollution management in coastal areas, as well as the need to communicate the issue of plastic marine pollution and enhance public awareness, are discussed.
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