Microplastics in coastal waters of Northern Cyprus: Environmental burden and seafood contamination

In this study, surface water, sediment, and fish samples were collected from five regions along the northern coasts of Cyprus during both summer and winter seasons to assess their microplastic contamination levels. In surface waters, the highest microplastic concentrations per square meter were recorded in the following order: Karpaz (North) (0.16 MP/m), Güzelyurt (0.13 MP/m), Kyrenia (0.11 MP/m), Famagusta (0.09 MP/m), and Karpaz (South) (0.04 MP/m). Identified microplastics were classified by shape, with the following abundance ranking: fragments> films> filaments> pellets. Polyethylene was the most frequently detected polymer type in surface waters (63.6 %). In sediment samples, microplastics were most commonly found in coastal areas, followed by 50 m and 25 m offshore stations. The highest abundances were observed in Karpaz (North) (54.45 MP/kg d.w), Famagusta (23.43 MP/kg d.w), and Güzelyurt (26.29 MP/kg d.w). Regarding particle types, fragments (67 %) were dominant, followed by filaments (16 %), films (15 %), and pellets (2 %). Polystyrene was the only polymer type successfully identified in sediments. Among fish gastrointestinal tracts, the highest microplastic counts were detected in Merluccius merluccius, Pterois miles, and Etrumeus golanii, particularly in individuals collected from Girne and Famagusta. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common polymers identified in gastrointestinal samples. In muscle tissues, Dasyatis pastinaca, Raja clavata, and M. merluccius exhibited higher microplastic contents compared to other species. This study provides the most recent and detailed assessment of microplastic pollution in relation to both environmental matrices and seafood species within the territorial waters of Cyprus.