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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

Study of plastic pollution and its potential sources on Gran Canaria Island beaches (Canary Islands, Spain)

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020 50 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.
May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Jorge Rapp, Eugenio Raymond, Eugenio Raymond, Jorge Rapp, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez May Gómez, Ico Martínez May Gómez, Ico Martínez Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez May Gómez, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, May Gómez, Jorge Rapp, Alicia Herrera, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Eugenio Raymond, Eugenio Raymond, Ángelo Santana, Jorge Rapp, May Gómez, Jorge Rapp, Ico Martínez Ángelo Santana, Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Alicia Herrera, Jorge Rapp, Jorge Rapp, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez Ico Martínez May Gómez, May Gómez, Jorge Rapp, May Gómez, Jorge Rapp, Ico Martínez Ico Martínez May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Eugenio Raymond, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Ico Martínez May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Ico Martínez May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Alicia Herrera, May Gómez, May Gómez, May Gómez, Ico Martínez Alicia Herrera, Ico Martínez

Summary

A study of Gran Canaria beaches found that larger microplastic and mesoplastic fragments are primarily of foreign origin transported by currents, while smaller synthetic fibers are locally produced. The findings have implications for designing targeted policies to reduce microplastic pollution from both imported and locally generated sources.

Study Type Environmental

In order to understand the origin of plastic debris pollutants that accumulate in the Canary Islands coastline, six beaches of Gran Canaria Island were studied during different seasons to estimate the abundance and the types of two microplastics fraction sizes (0.01-1 mm and 1-5 mm) and mesoplastics fraction (5-25 mm). For the larger fraction of microplastics and mesoplastics, a high percentage of fragments and foams were found; moreover, both fractions show the same accumulation pattern in relation with the wave, wind, and current. The debris was checked for exogenous and local origins. Moreover, for the smaller fraction of microplastics, only natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic fibres were found, showing a totally different spatial distribution from the others fractions. This result suggests a possible endogenous origin of the contamination, in relation to the type and amount of wastewater discharges and beach users.

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