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Microplastics pollution along the central Atlantic coastline of Morocco
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Microplastic surveys of seven beaches on Morocco's central Atlantic coast found densities ranging from 7,680 to 34,200 particles/kg -- higher than many global reports -- with fibers (73%) and polyethylene (59%) dominating, providing baseline data for this previously unstudied coastline.
This baseline study describes the microplastic (MPs) problem on seven beaches located on Agadir, central Atlantic coast of Morocco. Microplastics abundances (densities) ranged from 7680 MPs/kg to 34,200 MPs/kg above other world beaches. The following shapes were found: fibers, fragments, films, and pellets. Fibers were the dominant typology with a 73%. Polyethylene (PE) was the predominant polymer in all beaches with an average percentage of 59%, followed by Polypropylene (PP - 18%), Polystyrene (PS - 9%), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC - 8%), and Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA - 6%). Microplastics abundances presented in this work suggest continuous inputs of plastics of all sizes and types. Also, all observed shapes highlight a combination of sources (primary and secondary). Central Atlantic Moroccan beaches are currently affected by extreme values of MPs that demand urgent interventions to restore environmental quality.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.