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Types, occurrence and distribution of microplastics in sediments from the northern Tyrrhenian Sea
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Microplastic contamination was found in sediments along a 31-km transect from a Tuscan port to Elba Island in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, with filaments being the dominant type. The contamination was present near ports as well as in offshore locations, indicating widespread dispersal beyond human activity hotspots.
This is the first survey to investigate microplastic contamination in the Northern Tyrrhenian seafloor, along a 31 km-long transect from the port of Piombino (Tuscany) to the port of Portoferraio (Elba Island). Plastics extracted from 58 sediment samples were counted and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Plastic pollution occurred in sites closer to ports as well as in offshore stations. Microplastics (1-5 mm) accounted for over 80% of particles. For all samples, the dominant microplastic type was filaments, followed by fragments and films. Six polymers were identified: nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephtalate were the most common. This part of the Tyrrhenian Sea is a busy shipping route connecting the mainland to the Elba Island, with thousands cargo and passenger ships passing by per year. Our data constitute a baseline for microplastic research in the Tyrrhenian seafloor.
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Plastic litter in sediments from the coasts of south Tuscany (Tyrrhenian Sea)
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Plastic litter (macro, meso, and micro sizes) was found in sediments along a large stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea coast of southern Tuscany, Italy, with microplastics dominating. The study provides baseline data for a region with significant coastal development and tourism.
The assessment of microplastic pollution in the shelf sediment of the Sicily and the Tuscan Islands
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Researchers found widespread microplastic pollution in seabed sediments across the shelf zones of Sicily and the Tuscan Archipelago in the Mediterranean. The study identified fibres as the dominant particle type and noted that proximity to urban and river inputs influenced contamination levels.
Microplastic distribution, abundance and composition in the water column, sediments and biota samples collected along the Tyrrhenian Coasts (Mediterranean Sea)
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A Greenpeace-sponsored sampling campaign along Italy's Tyrrhenian coastline detected microplastics in surface water, sediments, and marine organisms at all sites, including marine protected areas. Ports and river mouths showed the highest contamination levels, pointing to land-based and maritime activities as major sources. The study demonstrates that even protected marine areas in the Mediterranean are not free from plastic pollution.
Integrated approach for microplastic pollution assessment in the North-East Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea).
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Researchers conducted the first comprehensive microplastic contamination assessment across multiple environmental matrices in the northeast coast of Sardinia in the Tyrrhenian Sea, integrating data on MPs distribution, polymer types, and ecological risk in a geologically diverse and ecologically valuable coastal zone. The multi-matrix approach aimed to better characterize the sources and fate of microplastics in this region.
Integrated approach for microplastic pollution assessment in the North-East Sardinia (Tyrrhenian Sea).
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Researchers performed an integrated assessment of microplastic pollution across surface water, sediments, and biota collected from ports, coastal areas, and marine protected zones along the geomorphologically diverse northeast coast of Sardinia in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The multi-matrix approach revealed spatial patterns in microplastic contamination and enabled ecological risk assessment for this ecologically and economically important Mediterranean coastal region.
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.