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Microplastic abundance in beach sediments of the Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea
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Microplastic abundance (0.2-5 mm) was assessed in drift line sediments from three Kiel Fjord sites differing in visitor use, proximity to a sewage plant, and nearby large-plastic litter. Results revealed that local sources including sewage infrastructure and beach visitor activity influenced microplastic concentrations at specific sites.
We assessed the abundance of microplastics (0.2-5 mm) in drift line sediments from three sites in Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea. The first site is intensively used by beach visitors, the second is in close proximity to a sewage plant and the third is polluted with large-sized plastic litter. Samples were split into three grain size classes (0.2-0.5, 0.5-1, 1-5 mm), washed with calcium chloride solution, and filtered at 0.2 mm. Filters were then visually inspected, and a total of 180 fragments was classified as microplastics, of which 39% were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. At the site that is close to a sewage plant as well as at the site with intense beach use, 1.8 and 4.5 particles (fibers plus fragments) per kg of dry sediment were found, respectively, while particle abundances reached 30.2 per kg of dry sediment at the site with high litter loads. Our data suggest that the fragmentation of large plastic debris at site seems to be a relevant source for microplastics in Western Baltic Sea beach sediments.
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Microplastic abundance in beach sediments of the Kiel Fjord
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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.