We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A multi-compartment assessment from surface waters to sediments of microplastic pollution in the southern Mediterranean sea: A case study of BouIsmail Bay, Algeria
Summary
Researchers investigated the spatial distribution, abundance, and characteristics of microplastics in surface water and seafloor sediments at multiple coastal and offshore stations in BouIsmail Bay on Algeria's southern Mediterranean coast during summer 2023, using KOH digestion and density separation for extraction. The multi-compartment assessment found polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the most common polymers with fragments dominant in surface waters and fibers dominant in sediments, providing new baseline data for the under-characterised southern Mediterranean.
Microplastic pollution is an increasing anthropogenic pressure on coastal marine ecosystems, particularly in semi-enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean. This study investigates the spatial distribution, abundance, and characteristics of microplastics in BouIsmail Bay, located on the southern Mediterranean coast of Algeria. Samples of surface water and seafloor sediments were collected from multiple coastal and offshore stations in summer of 2023. Microplastics were extracted using potassium hydroxide (KOH) digestion in seawater and KOH digestion combined with density separation in seafloor sediments. Particles were quantified, classified by shape, color, and size, and identified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results showed relatively uniform concentrations across offshore and coastal stations, with seawater samples comprising 1.16 ± 0.8 items/m and sediment samples comprising 0.36 ± 0.2 items/g. Horizontal distribution was influenced by proximity to urbanized areas and wadis, while vertical distribution was likely affected by biological interactions such as biofouling and incorporation into organic aggregates (e.g., diatoms) or mineral particles. Morphological analysis indicated a predominance of fragments in surface waters, whereas fibers dominated the sediments. FTIR analysis identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the most common polymers. Phytoplankton analysis, conducted in parallel, revealed marked variations in the relative abundance of major phytoplankton groups, with exceptional blooms of Prorocentrum spp. coinciding with areas of highest microplastic concentrations. These findings provide a valuable baseline for understanding microplastic dynamics in southern Mediterranean coastal areas and highlight the urgent need for improved plastic waste management and environmental monitoring policies in Algeria.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Seasonal variation of microplastics density in Algerian surface waters (South-Western Mediterranean Sea)
Researchers monitored seasonal variation in microplastic density in Algerian surface waters of the south-western Mediterranean Sea, documenting temporal patterns in microplastic concentrations in an understudied region of the Mediterranean.
Occurrence and characterization of surface sediment microplastics and litter from North African coasts of Mediterranean Sea: Preliminary research and first evidence
Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic and macro-litter contamination along North African Mediterranean coasts in the Gulf of Annaba, Algeria. Five types of microplastics were identified, with fibers being the most common at 70%, and polyethylene the dominant polymer. The distribution of contamination was linked to proximity to populated areas, wastewater discharges, and industrial installations.
Microplastics spatiotemporal distribution and variability in marine habitats along the North-Western Mediterranean coastal waters.
Researchers assessed microplastic spatiotemporal distribution across multiple Mediterranean marine habitat types including water surface, sediment, and biota, revealing significant variability by location and season. The multi-compartment approach showed that no single habitat type captures the full extent of microplastic contamination.
Micro- and macro-plastics in beach sediment of the Algerian western coast: First data on distribution, characterization, and source
Researchers conducted the first survey of micro- and macro-plastic pollution on nine beaches along 124 km of Algeria's western coast, finding plastic concentrations varying from 7.6 to 66 items/m2 with fragments dominating at 83% and pellets comprising nearly 15% of microplastics.
Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco)
Researchers sampled surface water in a Mediterranean bay in Morocco over three years and found microplastics at concentrations up to 15 particles per cubic meter, with polyethylene being the most common polymer — providing the first baseline data on microplastic pollution along Morocco's Mediterranean coastline.