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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Types, occurrence and distribution of microplastics in sediments from the northern Tyrrhenian Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020 58 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Michele Mistri Michele Mistri Michele Mistri Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Michele Mistri Michele Mistri Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Tommaso Granata, Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Michele Mistri Marco Scoponi, Marco Scoponi, Tommaso Granata, Letizia Moruzzi, Tommaso Granata, Marco Scoponi, Tommaso Granata, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Letizia Moruzzi, Tommaso Granata, Marco Scoponi, Tommaso Granata, Tommaso Granata, Cristina Munari, Tommaso Granata, Letizia Moruzzi, Letizia Moruzzi, Cristina Munari, Marco Scoponi, Michele Mistri Michele Mistri Letizia Moruzzi, Letizia Moruzzi, Francesca Massara, Marco Scoponi, Letizia Moruzzi, Letizia Moruzzi, Cristina Munari, Francesca Massara, Cristina Munari, Michele Mistri Francesca Massara, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Francesca Massara, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Michele Mistri Cristina Munari, Michele Mistri Michele Mistri Michele Mistri Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Michele Mistri Francesca Massara, Michele Mistri Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Cristina Munari, Michele Mistri

Summary

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.

Study Type Environmental

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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