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Protracted dynamicity of microplastics in the coastal sediment of the Southeast Black Sea
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Comparing sediment samples from the Southeast Black Sea coast collected a decade apart in 2012 and 2022, this study found that microplastic abundances had increased substantially and that fibers and fragments dominated, with the majority of detected polymers linked to regional fishing and tourism activities.
This study provided the first evaluation of microplastic abundance, features, risk assessment, and decade-changing status in sediment along the southeastern Black Sea coast. Sediment samples were collected from thirteen stations in the Southeast Black Sea in 2012 and 2022. >70 % of the detected microplastics had a length of up to 2.5 mm and consisted of fragments and fibers in shape. The average microplastic abundance in the sediment samples was 108 MP/kg. The composition in the sediment (particles/kg) was dominated by polyethylene (PE) (44.9 %), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (27.2 %), and polypropylene PP (15.2 %). Remarkable results for contamination factors, polymeric risk assessment and contamination risk indices. The sharp rise in MPS highlighted the heavily populated stations and stream discharge locations. The data shed light on anthropogenic and basal microplastic pollution in the Southeast Black Sea, assisting in developing effective policies for preserving and managing the Black Sea environment.
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Characteristics and temporal trends of microplastics in the coastal area in the Southern Black Sea over the past decade
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Researchers investigated microplastic abundance, polymer types, and size distributions in seawater at three distances from the southeastern Black Sea coast over a decade (2009-2020). Polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate dominated at 44.9% and 25.3% respectively, with fragment shapes most common, and no significant spatiotemporal changes in abundance were detected.
Current status and comparative risk assessment of microplastic pollution in surface water and sediment from the Black Sea coastline using geospatial analysis
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Researchers conducted the first comprehensive microplastic survey of Turkey's Black Sea coast, documenting a roughly 78% annual increase in surface water particle concentrations and a threefold rise at some sediment stations, with fibers and high-risk polymers like PET and PVC dominating both matrices and most sites rated high ecological risk.
Exploring the Microplastics Distribution in the Bottom Sediments of the Western Black Sea
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Researchers surveyed the bottom sediments of the western Black Sea and found microplastic particles at every sampling site, with fibers the most common shape and polyethylene/polypropylene the most common polymer types. The widespread presence across the shelf zone, without a clear pattern tied to distance from shore, suggests diffuse anthropogenic inputs rather than a single point source — a finding that complicates clean-up and monitoring efforts for this semi-enclosed sea.
A comprehensive study of the spatial and temporal distribution of the microplastics pollution qualitative and quantitative composition in the recreational areas of the Sevastopol region with varying degrees of anthropogenic load
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Researchers conducted four-year comprehensive monitoring of microplastic pollution in beach sediments, bottom sediments, and surface water at five recreational beaches in the Sevastopol region of the Black Sea, finding increasing trends in plastic accumulation over time. Monitoring recreational beaches is especially relevant because these are zones of direct human-water contact.
Microplastic contamination and characteristics spatially vary in the southern Black Sea beach sediment and sea surface water
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Microplastic abundance and characteristics were assessed along the southern Black Sea coastline, finding that over 70% of particles were smaller than 2.5 mm, with average concentrations of 64 particles/kg in beach sediment and 18.68 particles/m3 in seawater, and the Marmara region showing highest pollution.
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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.