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Microplastics hot spots at the South Iberian Margin
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Researchers found microplastic "hot spots" along Portugal's southern coast, where tiny plastic particles were found in sand, seawater, and mussels, a popular seafood, with sediment levels up to 1,000 times higher than in water. Since mussels are filter feeders that absorb whatever's in the water around them, this matters because it means the seafood we eat may carry plastic contamination linked to nearby human activity and river pollution, though more research is needed to understand the direct health impacts of consuming these particles.
The persistent accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in sediments poses ecological risks to benthic organisms and contributes to the broader issue of marine pollution. This study quantitatively analysed MPs in sediments, water and mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from eleven sites of the South Portuguese coast in two contrasting climatic seasons (summer and winter). MPs were detected in sediments, water, and M. galloprovincialis at all study sites, although their abundance, colour, size, and type varied across compartments, locations, and seasons. Three hot spots of MPs contamination were identified at the South Portuguese coast. In these areas, the concentration of MPs in sediments was three orders of magnitude higher than water and mussels. The MPs identified had distinct colour patterns: transparent particles dominated in sediments, while blue was the most common in water and mussels. A size-dependent accumulation pattern was observed in the sediments, suggesting selective retention of MPs according to natural particle size, and a relationship was observed between MP levels in sediments and in mussels. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were dominant polymers in sediments while PP, PE and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were consistently present in water and mussels. Polybuthyl methachrylate (PBMA) was also detected in surface water and ingested by mussels. These findings suggest that variability in MPs abundance and polymer composition is linked to differences in local human activities. They also provide strong evidence for the importance of controlling land-based sources of MPs, particularly those transported to the coastal area by transported by rivers.
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First Observations and Monitoring of Microplastics on Oceanic and Coastal Waters off the Canary Islands (Subtropical NE Atlantic)
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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.
Microplastics in Mediterranean Seawater
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This study reviewed and characterized microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing how the basin's semi-enclosed geography and intense anthropogenic pressures make it one of the world's most microplastic-contaminated marine environments. The Mediterranean's high microplastic burden poses direct risks to the region's fisheries and seafood-dependent populations, who face elevated dietary exposure to plastic particles and their associated chemical contaminants.
Floating Microplastics in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea: Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneities
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Floating microplastic concentrations in the northwestern Mediterranean showed significant spatial and temporal variation at small scales near coastal river mouths, with levels spiking after rainfall events that flush plastics from land into the sea. This heterogeneity means that single-point measurements dramatically underestimate total microplastic loads, calling for more intensive and dynamic monitoring strategies in heavily polluted enclosed seas.
Microplastics in Mediterranean Sediments
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Researchers compiled a global overview of microplastic contamination levels in Mediterranean seafloor sediments, summarizing data across the basin to establish baseline concentrations and identify pollution hotspots. Mediterranean sediments function as long-term reservoirs of microplastics that continuously re-enter the water column and food web, making sediment contamination data essential for modeling cumulative exposure risks to marine life and humans.
Microplastic Abundance and Polymer Types in a Mediterranean Environment
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance and polymer types across multiple compartments of a Mediterranean marine environment, documenting their presence from the sea surface to beach sediments and within marine organisms. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastics are pervasive throughout Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.