We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in the Canary Islands: A Case Study on Transport and Tourist Pressure
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the Canary Islands, a region heavily influenced by Atlantic Ocean currents, and found that remote sources contributed significantly to local beach and water accumulation. The study also evaluated emerging contaminants on an EU regulatory watch list, finding limited but concerning data on ecological risks.
Microplastics (MPs) are a global concern due to their persistence and capacity to adsorb and transport pollutants. The Canary Islands, influenced by the Canary Current, are particularly vulnerable to MPs accumulation from remote sources. The European Union’s Watch List includes emerging contaminants that require monitoring to assess potential ecological risks, though limited data hinder definitive evaluations. This study conducted a monitoring campaign between December 2023 and September 2024 across eleven beaches on four eastern islands of the archipelago. The aim was to assess MPs pollution (particles between 1 and 5 mm) and the presence of 26 organic contaminants from the EU Watch List adsorbed onto MPs, evaluating seasonal variation and tourism influence. Results show that beaches facing north and east had significantly higher MPs levels—up to an order of magnitude greater (ranged from <10 to >500 items/m2)—due to strong wind exposure, confirming the role of the Canary Current in MPs transport. White/transparent fragments dominated (>50%) among MPs types. Eight Watch List compounds were identified, with UV filters—commonly found in sunscreens—being the most frequently detected, present at nearly all sampling sites. Octocrylene reached concentrations up to 17,811 ng/g in highly touristic beaches. These findings highlight the environmental pressure on insular coastal zones and the relevance of combining MPs monitoring with targeted contaminant analysis in regions affected by oceanic currents and tourism.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in surface waters and beaches of the Canary Islands: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assesses a decade of research on microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in the waters and beaches of the Canary Islands. The study highlights how the archipelago's position in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre makes it particularly vulnerable to oceanic transport of plastic debris from remote sources.
Exploring the origin and fate of surface and sub-surface marine microplastics in the Canary Islands region
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the origin, transport, and fate of microplastics at various ocean depths around the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The study found high concentrations of microplastics at known hotspot beaches and provided new insights into how large-scale and mesoscale ocean dynamics influence the distribution of plastic particles in both surface and sub-surface waters.
Study of plastic pollution and its potential sources on Gran Canaria Island beaches (Canary Islands, Spain)
AI summary Read the abstract
A study of Gran Canaria beaches found that larger microplastic and mesoplastic fragments are primarily of foreign origin transported by currents, while smaller synthetic fibers are locally produced. The findings have implications for designing targeted policies to reduce microplastic pollution from both imported and locally generated sources.
Searching hotspots of neustonic microplastics contamination in the Canary Islands.
AI summary Read the abstract
The IMPLAMAC expedition surveyed microplastic concentrations at the sea surface around the Canary Islands, an area influenced by the North Atlantic subtropical gyre and the Canary Current. Hotspots of neustonic microplastic contamination were mapped, with the highest concentrations found in areas where converging currents concentrate floating debris. The data provide a detailed picture of how ocean circulation patterns create uneven distributions of microplastics across an archipelago.
First Observations and Monitoring of Microplastics on Oceanic and Coastal Waters off the Canary Islands (Subtropical NE Atlantic)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted some of the first systematic monitoring of microplastics in ocean and coastal waters around the Canary Islands, highlighting the challenge of designing sampling methods that can capture microplastic distribution across large open-ocean areas and calling for standardized monitoring approaches.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.