We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Coastal gradients of small microplastics and associated pollutants influenced by estuarine sources
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled small microplastics in the Gulf of Cadiz at 5 m depth and found higher densities (130 mg/m3) than most other regions worldwide, with concentrations decreasing from the coastline outward and predominantly composed of polymer fragments between 45 and 193 μm.
Small microplastics (SMPs) in the gulf of Cadiz was sampled at 5 m depth by pumping it through the ship's pipe system and filtered through a 45 μm mesh size net. Our study reveals that higher densities have been found (130 mg·m) compared to other regions worldwide and these densities decreased from the coastline to the outer stations, showing a general coastal gradient influenced by estuarine outflows. SMPs with a size range between 45 and 193 μm were predominant and most of them composed by polyethylene and polypropylene. The metals associated with the MPs were mainly Na (21.1%), K (11.3%), Fe (8.5%), Ca (2.1%), Cr (1.8%), Zr (13.3%) and Hf (0.7%). The high proportion of Zr compared to Fe, which is different from what can be found in the environment, suggests that this metal is intrinsic to the materials used in catalytic processes during plastic production.
More Papers Like This
Vertical Distribution and Composition of Plastics in Coastal Areas of the Gulf of Cádiz: Insights into Transport Dynamics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured plastic distribution across the surface water, subsurface, water column, and sediment of the Gulf of Cádiz coast using high-resolution vertical sampling. The highest concentrations were found in sediments (97.9%), with water column concentrations decreasing exponentially with depth, illuminating vertical transport dynamics.
Microplastics hot spots at the South Iberian Margin
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastic "hot spots" along Portugal's southern coast, where tiny plastic particles were found in sand, seawater, and mussels, a popular seafood, with sediment levels up to 1,000 times higher than in water. Since mussels are filter feeders that absorb whatever's in the water around them, this matters because it means the seafood we eat may carry plastic contamination linked to nearby human activity and river pollution, though more research is needed to understand the direct health impacts of consuming these particles.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Gulf of Cadiz
AI summary Read the abstract
This conference poster abstract briefly describes a study on microplastic pollution in surface waters of the Gulf of Cadiz in Spain, with limited methodological or results detail available.
Spatial distribution of microplastics in the Gulf of Cadiz as a function of their density: A Lagrangian modelling approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers coupled a Lagrangian transport model to a high-resolution hydrodynamic model to analyze microplastic distribution in the Gulf of Cadiz, finding that low-density plastics accumulate near estuary sources while high-density particles sink rapidly, with the Guadalquivir and Guadiana estuaries as the dominant input pathways.
Study on the Mass Concentration Distributions of Marine Microplastics in Estuaries and Coastal Areas
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized the mass concentration distribution of marine microplastics in estuarine and coastal environments, measuring spatial gradients between river mouths and open coastal waters and identifying estuaries as major transition zones for microplastic flux.
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.