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Microplastic particles in sediments and waters, south of Caspian Sea: Frequency, distribution, characteristics, and chemical composition

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2020 90 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Rosa Busquets Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rolf D. Vogt, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Behnam Keshavarzi, Rolf D. Vogt, Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Rolf D. Vogt, Rolf D. Vogt, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Rolf D. Vogt, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Farid Moore, Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Farid Moore, Rosa Busquets Hassan Nasrollahzadeh Saravi, Hassan Nasrollahzadeh Saravi, Rolf D. Vogt, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Mohammad Javad Nematollahi, Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets Rosa Busquets

Summary

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence in coastal sediments and surface waters along the southern Caspian Sea coast in Iran, finding mean concentrations of 15 items/kg in sediments and 710 items/m3 in coastal water. Fibers dominated at 97% of all MPs in both media and were predominantly black-colored, with smaller particles more prevalent in water than sediments.

Polymers

PE PET PS nylon

Study Type Environmental

This study assesses the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in coastal and sea surface sediments, as well as water samples, collected from the coastal region of the southern Caspian Sea, Mazandaran province, Iran. A total of 32 sediment and 10 water samples were studied. The mean concentration of MPs was 15 units kg<sup>-1</sup> in the sediments and 710 units m<sup>-3</sup> in the coastal water. Fibers constituted by far the dominant MPs in both media, accounting for 97% of the MPs in both sediment and water samples. The MPs were mainly black in color. The dominant size of MP particles in sediment samples was between 250 and 500 μm, while the fraction >1000 μm dominated in the water samples. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and nylon (NYL) were the main polymers and/or copolymers composing MPs in both sediment and water samples. The MP particles had a relatively smooth surface morphology, although signs of weathering were observed. The number of MP particles in sediment and water samples showed a general decrease from west to east in the study area. This may be reflecting the spreading of MP loading from the outlets of Sefidrud, Tonekabon, Chalus, the major rivers entering the Caspian Sea just west of the study area, and the overall decrease in the spatial distribution of touristic and fishery activity. The main sources of MP particles could be local emissions from a large number of domestic wastewater effluents and urban surface runoff due to high population density, and industrial and fishing activities in this region. This study indicated that MP particles, based on their characteristics and chemical composition, are circulated between coastal waters, and shore and sea surface sediments of the Caspian Sea, leading to their uneven distribution in the different depths. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work studying the distribution of MP particles in sea surface sediments and also the most comprehensive on MPs in shoreline sediments and coastal waters in the southern Caspian Sea.

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