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The influence of depositional environment on the abundance of microplastic pollution on beaches in the Bristol Channel, UK
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Researchers assessed the extent and variability of microplastic pollution across multiple beaches in the Bristol Channel, UK, finding that depositional environment characteristics significantly influenced the abundance and distribution of microplastic contamination in beach sand.
Microplastic is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, but large gaps still exist in our knowledge of its distribution. We conducted a detailed assessment of the extent and variability of microplastic pollution in the Bristol Channel, UK. Sand samples were collected between the 5th and 30th August 2017, with microplastic recovered from 15 of the 16 beaches sampled along a coastal extent of ~230 km. In total, 1446 particles of suspected microplastic were extracted using a cascade of sieves and visual identification. The most common microplastics recovered were fragments (74%) and industrial plastic pellets (13%). We used Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to analyse 25% of recovered particles, 96.5% of which were confirmed as plastic, with polyethylene (61%) and polypropylene (26%) the most common polymers. Our analysis of local beach environments indicates microplastic burdens were higher on lower energy beaches with finer sediments, highlighting the importance of depositional environment in determining microplastic abundance.
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Relationships between sediment size distribution and microplastic abundance and characteristics along the strandline of a sandy embayment (Whitsand, Southwest England)
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Researchers analyzed the relationship between sediment characteristics and microplastic distribution along a beach in southwest England. They found that microplastic abundance and type varied significantly across the strandline, with larger microplastics being more prevalent in coarser sediments. The study provides evidence that local sediment dynamics play an important role in determining where microplastics accumulate on sandy beaches.
Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in sediments from Norderney
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Researchers surveyed sediments from Norderney in the North Sea and found widespread microplastic contamination, documenting spatial distribution patterns and particle characteristics across this tidally influenced coastal environment.
Sediment grain size determines microplastic exposure landscapes for sandy beach macroinfauna
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Researchers studied microplastic distribution across sandy beach zones to understand exposure landscapes for intertidal organisms. They found that sediment grain size, rather than beach zonation, was the primary factor determining microplastic abundance, providing important guidance for designing sampling surveys and assessing ecological risk from microplastic pollution on beaches.
Microplastic beaching dependence on sediment grain size
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Researchers sampled microplastics across a Mediterranean protected beach and found that accumulation is strongly influenced by sediment grain size — fine-grained sands trap more surface microplastics due to lower infiltration capacity — while fiber shape promotes entanglement in sediment pores and proximity to tourism and port activities drives spatial pollution hotspots.
Factors driving the abundance and distribution of microplastics on sandy beaches in a Southwest Atlantic seaside resort
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Researchers investigated factors driving microplastic abundance on sandy beaches along the Southwest Atlantic coast, finding that both natural forces like wave energy and anthropogenic inputs influenced the distribution of fiber and fragment microplastics in surface sediments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.