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From Inshore To Offshore: Microplastic Flows in Three Areas of The MSFD Italian Subregions
Summary
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the surface waters of three Italian subregions under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, tracking how particles flow from coastal to offshore areas. Densities were higher in coastal zones, and the study contributes data to Italian national microplastic monitoring programmes.
Abstract An increasing number of ecologists and researchers have addressed microplastics pollution in marine waters to explain the source, the transport, and the fate of these pollutants. Further data on the concentration of microplastics in the water column are crucial for understanding the impacts on ecosystems and to implement monitoring programs.This study provides information on the concentration and composition of sea water surface microplastics in three Italian subregions of the MSFD. We examined the flow of MPs from coastal to offshore areas, comparing their densities. We tested the efficiency of two sampling methodologies to evaluate the abundance and typology of MPs between marine layers. The results of this study confirm the high values of this pollutant in the Mediterranean Sea (0.029 ± 0.033 items · m-2), a MPs gradient from coastal to offshore areas, and a difference between the surface and subsurface marine layers.