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Accumulation of Plastic Fragments and Microplastics on the Beaches in the South-east Baltic Sea
Summary
Seasonal beach surveys along the Kaliningrad coast of the southeastern Baltic Sea found plastic fragments and microplastics (0.5–5 mm) in sediments, with higher concentrations at beaches most exposed to anthropogenic pollution sources.
The sediment sampling from different areas of the beaches in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea (in Kaliningrad region) was executed for the purpose of studying the quantitative and qualitative composition of the microplastics particles (range 0.5-5 mm). Preference is given to those beaches that are exposed to maximum anthropogenic pollution. From June, 2015 to January, 2016, there were 14 expeditions along the coastline of the Baltic Sea (in Kaliningrad region) to collect experimental materials. The majority of samples were collected on the most recent flotsam deposited at “wracklines”, in the supralittoral zone. The primary examination of those samples revealed the presence of abundant microplastic particles of the required size range (0.5-5 mm). Quantitative distribution of microplastics in beach sediments was obtained in milligrams per gram of sediment and milligrams per m2: on average 0.05-2.89 (mg per gram of sediment) and 370-7330 (mg per m2), accordingly.