We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastic contamination of sandy beaches along the southern Baltic – a one season field survey results
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic and macroplastic contamination along the Polish Baltic Sea coast, finding microplastic concentrations of 118–1,382 pieces/kg in beach sand and 0.61–2.76 pieces/dm3 in coastal waters, with sub-1 mm blue fibers dominating across all sites and suggesting a common fibrous source throughout the Polish coastal zone.
The subject of this study was microplastics (>32 µm), large micro-/macroplastics (>2 mm) and plastic litter (visible by naked eye) contamination on sandy beaches and in coastal waters along the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea. Microplastics were studied with particular attention, with simultaneous observations in the water and across the beach. Other data was intended to serve as a background and as possible sources of microplastics. Most of the microplastics found were fibers <1 mm long, with blue fibers dominating, followed by transparent, red and green ones, both in sand and water samples. The concentration of microplastics on the beach sand ranged from 118 to 1382 pieces kg−1, while in coastal waters from 0.61 to 2.76 pieces dm−3. As for large micro-/macroplastics and plastic litter, there was no dominant litter along the coast. The amount of large micro-/macroplastics ranged from 2 to 124 pieces m−2 (or from 0.13 to 44.30 g m−2). Regarding plastic litter, on average between 0.03 and 6.15 litter debris m−2 were found (or from 0.007 to 4.600 g m−2). The study confirms that plastic pollution of the Polish coastal zone is a significant problem comparable with both the rest of the Baltic Sea and other seas and oceans. Similar color-based composition of microplastics among all studied sites suggests that they may have a common source, while the contamination of large micro-/macroplastics and plastic litter (both amount of particles and their composition) along the Polish coast is highly site-specific and may be influenced by various local factors.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics on sandy beaches of the southern Baltic Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were detected on all 12 beaches along the Polish Baltic coast at concentrations of 76 to 295 items per kilogram of sediment, with fibers and fragments dominant and no strong relationship to sediment grain size. Urban beaches had the highest concentrations, though beach hydrodynamics also played a significant role in structuring local microplastic distribution.
Microplastic contamination of sandy beaches of national parks, protected and recreational areas in southern parts of the Baltic Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastic contamination in all 51 surface beach sand samples across seven sites along the southern Baltic Sea, including national park and protected areas, at a mean of 68 items/kg dry weight. Expanded polystyrene fragments were the most common type (~38%), and protected areas did not differ substantially from recreational beaches.
Comparative study on microplastic abundance in fish organs from marine and freshwater ecosystems of the southern Baltic Sea region: influence of habitat zone and feeding preferences
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in 58% of 500 fish specimens examined across Baltic Sea and northern Polish freshwater ecosystems, with carnivorous and benthic species showing the highest contamination levels and blue fibers being the most common particle type across all habitats.
Study of microplastic occurrence on the sandy beaches of Šventoji, Lithuania
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found significant microplastic contamination on the sandy beaches of Šventoji, Lithuania, with concentrations ranging from 85 to 325 particles per kilogram of dry sediment — among the highest reported for the Baltic Sea. Fibres and fragments dominated, with most particles being smaller than 1 mm.
The detection of microplastics in beach sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigates spatial and temporal variations in microplastic concentrations in beach sediments at multiple locations along the German Baltic and North Sea coasts, finding particle and fiber concentrations of 0-11 colored pieces per kg sediment.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.