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Chemical composition of microplastics floating on the Mediterranean Sea surface

Firenze University Press eBooks 2022
Kedzierski, Mikaël, Maialen Palazot, Maialen Palazot, Lata Soccalingame, Lata Soccalingame, Mathilde Falcou-Préfol, Gabriel Gorsky, François Galgani, Stéphane Bruzaud, Maria Luiza Pedrotti

Summary

Surface water samples from the 2014 Tara Mediterranean expedition revealed that the Mediterranean Sea's microplastic composition was relatively homogeneous at large scales, dominated by polyethylene (67%), polypropylene (21%), and polystyrene (3%). Some regional variation was observed, with the North Tyrrhenian Sea showing lower polyethylene proportions.

Polymers
PE PP PS

Main objective of this study was to describe chemical composition of MP collected in surface waters of Mediterranean Sea. Samples were collected by manta net during Tara Mediterranean expedition (June–Nov.2014). Our results pointed to certain homogeneity at Mediterranean Sea scale. Main polymers collected were polyethylene (PE) (67.3±2.4%), polypropylene (20.8±2.1%), polystyrene (3.0±0.9%). Still, discrepancies, confirmed by literature, were observed at mesoscale level. Thus, in North Tyrrhenian Sea, proportion of PE was significantly lower than average value of Mediterranean Sea (57.9±10.5%).

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