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Seasonal Variations in the Content of Microplastic Particles in the Sands of the Beach Swash Zone
Summary
This study tracked seasonal changes in microplastic particle concentrations in beach sands along the Vistula Spit on the Baltic Sea over multiple sampling periods. Microplastic content varied by season and particle size, providing baseline data for understanding how plastic pollution fluctuates in dynamic coastal environments.
The paper considers the seasonal dynamics of the content of microplastic particles with a size from 0.5 to 5 mm in the sands of the surf zone of the Vistula Spit (the Baltic Sea). Microplastic particles are classified by size and color. The results are compared with the data for the Curonian Spit. It is concluded that the level of contamination with small microplastics (0.5–2 mm) of the sands of the swash zone can be used as a "background" value for the entire region and during all seasons of the year. The current level of sand contamination in the wave swash zone in the South-Eastern Baltic by small microplastic particles (0.5–2 mm) is 30–60 pieces per kg of dry weight throughout the year, while more than 90% are fibers.