We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluation of abundance of microplastics in the Bulgarian coastal waters
Summary
This study assessed microplastic pollution in Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters across different site types — protected, aquaculture, and industrial zones — providing one of the first quantitative datasets for this undermonitored region. The presence of microplastics in all areas, including protected sites, indicates that contamination is pervasive and that Black Sea marine organisms face widespread exposure to particles that can also carry adsorbed chemical pollutants.
Plastic pollution in seawaters is ubiquitous, but quantitative estimates on the floating microplastics in the Black Sea are still limited. Plastics may adsorb persistent environmental contaminants, thus representing a potential risk for marine organisms. Aim : Thе aim of the study was evaluation of the presence and characteristics of microplastic particles (MPs) in waters from the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Materials and methods : Samples of coastal waters were collected from March 2021 to April 2022 from different stations on the Black Sea coast, including protected, aquaculture and industrial areas. In order to determine the number of plastic particles, 23 samples were collected from the surface waters at depth of 1–3 m close to the Bulgarian shore. Samples were treated with H 2 O 2 , plastic particles were isolated by density separation and filtered over a membrane filter. Identification analysis of micro particles (< 5 mm) was performed visually by microscopy. Main results : Results indicated widespread presence of microplastics in coastal waters. Mean MPs concentration was calculated 7.3 ± 4.9 pt/l. The comparison of the North, Varna and South sampling area showed that there is no significant difference in the abundance of plastic particles. The most dominant type forms were fibres followed by fragments. The most abundant size class of fragments was 101–500 μm Ferret diameter. Conclusion : Further studies are needed in order to fill knowledge gap and to evaluate distribution of plastic particles in the Black Sea and their potential ecological risk.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics and floating litter pollution in Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters
Researchers conducted a pilot study of floating marine litter and microplastics along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, finding high quantities of floating litter (60.3-93.8 items per km) and microplastic concentrations of 0.114 to 1.91 x 10 items per km. Concentrations were on average lower than in other parts of the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, though observed ranges were comparable.
High microplastic pollution in marine sediments associated with urbanised areas along the SW Bulgarian Black Sea coast
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in beach and seabed sediments along the southwestern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Urbanized coastal areas had significantly higher microplastic levels than non-urbanized areas, with seabed samples averaging over 800 particles per kilogram of dry sediment. The study identified sewage discharges, urban waste, fisheries, and marine litter accumulation as likely sources of the contamination.
Microplastic Pollution on the Beaches of the Black Sea in Romania and Bulgaria
Researchers characterized microplastic pollution on beaches along the Black Sea coast in Romania and Bulgaria, finding microplastics at all sampled sites with fragment and fiber morphologies predominating and higher concentrations near tourist and urban areas.
The assessment of the bioaccumulation of microplastics in key fish species from the Bulgarian aquatory of the Black Sea
Researchers examined five commercially important fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and found microplastics in all tissue types studied. The most common particles were polyethylene and PET pellets, with sizes ranging down to 25 micrometers, indicating widespread plastic pollution in this region that could affect both fish populations and the humans who eat them.
Comprehensive Review regarding the Profile of the Microplastic Pollution in the Coastal Area of the Black Sea
This literature review profiled microplastic pollution across the Black Sea, summarizing contamination levels in water, sediment, and seafood consumed by coastal populations. The Black Sea's unique hydrodynamics and heavy riverine inputs create hotspots for microplastic accumulation, with seafood contamination posing direct human exposure concerns.