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Floating Marine Litter in Eastern Mediterranean From Macro to Microplastics: The Lebanese Coastal Area as a Case Study
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The first systematic survey of plastic pollution in Lebanese coastal waters found both macro- and microplastics in all 22 sites sampled, with higher levels during the dry season. The Mediterranean coastline of Lebanon is heavily polluted with plastic, linked primarily to poor waste management on land.
Despite emerging and increasing concerns related to marine micro and macroplastics, no systematic surveys have been undertaken yet in the Lebanese marine area. To understand the spatio-temporal variation of plastic litter (macro and microplastics) in the Lebanese marine environment and to determine the sources of pollution, this study investigated the characteristics of plastic pollution in sea surface waters during wet and dry seasons in 22 sites of Beirut and Tyre regions. A total of 23,023 items were identified and assessed according to the shape, color, and concentration; moreover, the risk of microplastics (MPs) contamination was explored based on a risk assessment model. The obtained results demonstrated that the average macroplastics concentration was 0.45 ± 0.6 items/m 3 . The average microplastics concentration was found to be 20.1 ± 21.8 and 3.78 ± 5.2 items/m 3 in spring and fall respectively. During fall, MPs fragments were dominant in Beirut (97%) and Tyre (91%), and no pellets were observed. During spring, filaments were most encountered in Beirut (76.5%). The most dominant marine litter color was blue followed by black and white. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values showed a moderate contamination of the Lebanese coast with MPs (PLI: 5.79 ± 3.93) except for several sites in Beirut that showed high values of PLI, highlighting the local influence of cities and rivers on MPs concentration. This study serves as an important baseline for understanding the characteristics of the seasonal variation of MPs along the Lebanese marine environment; it will help stakeholders and countries to take proactive and reactive actions to face plastic litter pollution in the Lebanese coastal area.
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Microplastics pollution along the Lebanese coast (Eastern Mediterranean Basin): Occurrence in surface water, sediments and biota samples
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Microplastics were detected in surface water, sediments, and biota along the Lebanese coastline of the eastern Mediterranean, with concentrations reflecting local pollution pressures and sea current patterns. The study provides baseline data for a heavily urbanized and heavily impacted stretch of Mediterranean coast, confirming widespread microplastic contamination throughout the region.
First assessment of microplastics in offshore sediments along the Lebanese coast, South-Eastern Mediterranean
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic contamination in offshore sediments along the Lebanese coast in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea, characterizing particle abundance, morphology, size distribution, and polymer types. The study found measurable microplastic concentrations in all sampled sediment sites, contributing baseline data to fill a geographic gap in Mediterranean microplastic research.
Study of contaminants transported by microplastics in the Lebanese marine environment
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Researchers investigated microplastics in the Lebanese Mediterranean coastal environment as vectors for contaminant transport, applying multi-scope analytical approaches to assess environmental risks posed by plastic-associated pollutants including heavy metals, persistent organic compounds, and other chemical classes.
Microplastic inputs to the Mediterranean Sea during wet and dry seasons: The case of two Lebanese coastal outlets
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Sampling of two Lebanese rivers found that microplastic concentrations were far higher in the more urbanized and industrialized river, and that plastic particle loads spiked at the start of the wet season before declining as rain continued—suggesting that seasonal stormwater flushes pulse large amounts of microplastics into the Mediterranean Sea. These results underscore how urban land use and seasonal weather patterns together control the flow of plastic pollution from land to sea.
Changes in (micro and macro) plastic pollution in the sediment of three sandy beaches in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in relation to seasonality, beach use and granulometry
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Researchers measured plastic and microplastic pollution in sediment from three Mediterranean beaches across seasons, finding that smaller microplastics accumulate at the backshore while larger items concentrate near the waterline. Seasonal patterns and beach use intensity affected plastic abundance, with implications for beach management and cleanup strategies.
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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.