Assessment of microplastic pollution in the Gulf of Suez: Abundance and polymeric composition in beach sediments

The Gulf of Suez is a crucial shipping route and a hub for mining and oil drilling operations, making its area particularly susceptible to the accumulation of marine plastic waste. This study evaluates the abundance and composition of microplastics (MPs) along the Gulf of Suez shores. A total of 268 MPs particles were extracted from the sediments, with an average of 204.3 ± 146.6 MPs/kg dry weight. The Kruskal-Wallis test did not show significant variations among stations. The recovered MPs were mostly hard fragments and fibers. Most of the sampled stations had a low Pollution Index (PLI), indicating a low prevalence of MPs. The predominance of polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) suggests that marine-based sources and associated industrial activities are the main contributors. These findings offer a preliminary assessment of marine plastic pollution along the Gulf of Suez shores, highlighting the crucial need for monitoring offshore waters and sediments. Given the heavy shipping activity in the region, the offshore zone of the Gulf of Suez is expected to have higher levels of plastic pollution. The study also contributes to the expanding understanding of marine plastic pollution in the Red Sea region.