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Environmental Sources
Marine & Wildlife
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Microplastics in coastal sediments from Southern Portuguese shelf waters
Marine Environmental Research2015
356 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 45
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Vanessa Otero,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Vanessa Otero,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Joao, Frias,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Vanessa Otero,
Paula Sobral,
Joao, Frias,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Vanessa Otero,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Joao, Frias,
Paula Sobral,
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Jesús Gago
Summary
Microplastics were found in coastal sediments collected from southern Portuguese shelf waters, with the highest concentrations near river mouths and populated coastal areas. The study provides baseline data for this Atlantic European coastline and reinforces the pattern that proximity to human settlements drives sediment microplastic loading.
Microplastics are well-documented pollutants in the marine environment that result from fragmentation of larger plastic items. Due to their long chemical chains, they can remain in the environment for long periods of time. It is estimated that the vast majority (80%) of marine litter derives from land sources and that 70% will sink and remain at the bottom of the ocean. Microplastics that result from fragmentation of larger pieces of plastic are common to be found in beaches and in the water surface. The most common microplastics are pellets, fragments and fibres. This work provides original data of the presence of microplastics in coastal sediments from Southern Portuguese shelf waters, reporting on microplastic concentration and polymer types. Microplastic particles were found in nearly 56% of sediment samples, accounting a total of 31 particles in 27 samples. The vast majority were microfibers (25), identified as rayon fibres, and fragments (6) identified as polypropylene, through infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). The concentration and polymer type data is consistent with other relevant studies and reports worldwide.