0
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. Sign in to save

Sub-Basin Scale Heterogeneity in the Polymeric Composition of Floating Microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea

Springer water 2017 8 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Giuseppe Suaria, Carlo Giacomo Avio, Francesco Regoli, Stefano Aliani

Summary

A large-scale survey of floating microplastics across multiple sub-basins of the Mediterranean Sea revealed significant variation in both abundance and polymer composition—with polyethylene and polypropylene dominating—reflecting different pollution sources and oceanographic circulation patterns in each region. This spatial heterogeneity demonstrates that the Mediterranean cannot be treated as a uniform pollution zone and that sub-basin-scale monitoring is necessary to understand sources, transport, and accumulation of microplastics in semi-enclosed seas.

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted areas of the world with regard to microplastics. However, detailed knowledge about the spatial variability in microplastics abundance and composition is lacking. We present here the result of a large-scale survey of...

Share this paper