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Spatial Distribution and Contamination of Microplastics in Surface Sediments: A Case Study from Menekşe Beach, Marmara Sea, Türkiye
Summary
Researchers analyzed microplastic abundance in beach sediments at Menekse Beach on Turkey's Marmara Sea, finding mean concentrations of over 25,000 items/kg—notably higher when detected by fluorescent microscopy than standard stereomicroscopy—with fragments and fine-grained sediments dominating. The high contamination levels linked to wastewater discharge and recreational activities in Istanbul illustrate how densely populated coastal cities act as major microplastic sinks in semi-enclosed seas.
As the use of plastic raw materials has increased due to their low cost and ability to be easily shaped, the amount of microplastics (MP) derived from their residues has also increased significantly. MPs have started to affect not only our environment but also our health seriously. In the current study, the MP inventory was analyzed in beach sediment obtained from the Menekşe Beach coast of the inland Sea of Marmara. It is located in Istanbul, the most populous city in Türkiye. Nine samples were examined to determine the abundance, color, size, and shape of MPs. To explore the relation between grain size and MP abundance, sediment was first classified based on grain size. A two-step microscopic examination was performed, first using a stereomicroscope and then with a fluorescent microscope. The mean MP abundance (25156 ± 400 item/kg) detected in the fluorescent microscope was higher than in the stereomicroscope (13891 ± 600 item/kg). The predominant color of the microplastics was black (31.6%), and the dominant type was fragment (53.0%). The most common size range was small MPs (50–150 μm), which accounted for 50.8%. There is a significant positive correlation between the MPs' abundance and percentage of fine-grained. This study suggested that Menekşe Beach was heavily polluted with MPs sourced from wastewater treatment plants, currents, and human-related activities such as fishing, camping, and swimming.