Papers

Investigating the effects of microplastics on the metabolism of Trematomus bernacchii from the ross sea (Antarctica)

Scientists examined Antarctic fish (Trematomus bernacchii) from the Ross Sea and found microplastic fibers in 70% of specimens, showing that even the most remote ecosystems are contaminated. While the microplastics did not dramatically change the overall fat composition of the fish, the study documented that plastic pollution has reached wildlife in pristine Antarctic waters. This is concerning because it demonstrates the truly global scale of microplastic contamination throughout the food web.

Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Biodiversity in Italy

Researchers used digital media platforms to document the harmful effects of plastic litter on marine species around Italy's coastline. They found that sea turtles, marine mammals, seabirds, and fish were all affected through entanglement and ingestion, with the loggerhead sea turtle being the most frequently impacted species. The study demonstrates that plastic pollution poses a serious threat to marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean region.

Abundance and distribution of microplastics on sandy beaches of the eastern Moroccan Mediterranean coast

Researchers surveyed 19 sandy beaches along the eastern Moroccan Mediterranean coast and found microplastic concentrations ranging from 40 to 230 particles per kilogram of sand. Fibers were the most common shape, making up about 75 percent of all particles found, with polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene as the dominant polymer types. The findings indicate a moderate level of microplastic contamination along this stretch of coastline.

Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco)

Researchers sampled surface water in a Mediterranean bay in Morocco over three years and found microplastics at concentrations up to 15 particles per cubic meter, with polyethylene being the most common polymer — providing the first baseline data on microplastic pollution along Morocco's Mediterranean coastline.

Impact of microplastics on human health and aquatic species

This review examines the harmful effects of microplastics on marine life and human health, covering physical injury, oxidative stress, and disrupted immune responses in fish and other organisms. Researchers found that these impacts can cascade through marine food webs, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem function. The study also highlights growing concerns about human exposure to microplastics through seafood and other pathways.

Presence, Spatial Distribution, and Characteristics of Microplastics in Beach Sediments Along the Northwestern Moroccan Mediterranean Coast

Researchers surveyed fourteen beaches along the northwestern Moroccan Mediterranean coast and found microplastics in every sediment sample, averaging about 59 particles per kilogram of dry sand. Fibers were the dominant shape at nearly 78%, with tourism, fishing, and wastewater discharges identified as the most likely pollution sources. The findings indicate moderate but widespread microplastic contamination along this coastline.

Plastic and paint debris in marine protected areas of Peru

Researchers investigated microplastics, mesoplastics, and paint particles across multiple environmental compartments in two marine protected areas of Peru, revealing that even protected marine environments are contaminated with anthropogenic debris.

Face masks related to COVID-19 in the beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean: An emerging source of plastic pollution

Researchers monitored face mask litter on five tourist beaches along the Moroccan Mediterranean over five months, finding 321 masks (96% single-use) with higher densities on urban recreational beaches, identifying COVID-related masks as an emerging source of marine plastic pollution.

Investigating Microplastics in the Mediterranean Coastal Areas – Case Study of Al-Hoceima Bay, Morocco

Researchers investigated microplastic presence and distribution in the semi-enclosed Al-Hoceima Bay, Morocco, characterizing contamination patterns in Mediterranean coastal waters affected by anthropogenic activities along the coastline.

Anthropogenic Microparticles Abundance in Sandy Beach Sediments along the Tetouan Coast (Morocco Mediterranean)

Researchers conducted the first assessment of anthropogenic microparticle pollution on four sandy beaches along the Tetouan coast of Morocco. The study found an average concentration of 483 microparticles per kilogram of sediment, predominantly fibers, with pollution indices indicating very high abundance and extreme environmental impact levels.

Microplastics (≤ 10 μm) bioaccumulation in marine sponges along the Moroccan Mediterranean coast: Insights into species-specific distribution and potential bioindication

Researchers found that marine sponges along the Moroccan Mediterranean coast bioaccumulate small microplastics (10 micrometers or less), with species-specific differences in accumulation patterns, suggesting certain sponge species could serve as bioindicators for microplastic pollution monitoring.

Metal adsorption by microplastics in aquatic environments under controlled conditions: exposure time, pH and salinity

Scientists systematically varied pH, salinity, and exposure time during metal adsorption experiments on different microplastic types, finding that pH had the greatest influence on metal uptake, with higher pH favoring adsorption of copper, lead, and cadmium onto most tested polymers.

Microplastic pollution in Vietnam's estuarine, coastal and riverine environments: Research advances and future prospects

Improving the Accuracy of Random Forest Classifier for Identifying Burned Areas in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region Using Google Earth Engine

This study used remote sensing and machine learning to detect burned areas from forest fires in Morocco's Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region using Google Earth Engine. Researchers found that combining multiple spectral indices with a random forest classifier improved the accuracy of identifying fire-damaged areas compared to using individual indices alone.

Evaluating Microplastic Concentrations in the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area: Implications for Identifying Pollution Hotspots and Formulating Conservation Strategies

Researchers assessed microplastic concentrations in the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area in Morocco, sampling water, sediment, and biota to establish baseline contamination levels and evaluate whether protected area status effectively limits plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution in brackish waters: Macroalgae as collectors of plastic debris

Researchers investigated how two bloom-forming macroalgae (Chaetomorpha aerea and Hypnea cornuta) in a Sicilian coastal lagoon trap plastic debris ranging from macroplastics to microplastics, finding both species act as natural collectors with different capture efficiencies.

Water Quality and Environmental Resilience to Climate Change: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area

This comprehensive analysis examined water quality and environmental resilience in the context of climate change, reviewing how changing precipitation and temperature patterns affect freshwater systems. The study identified key vulnerabilities and proposed strategies for improving water resource management.

Reproductive cycle of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) from the Moroccan western Mediterranean Sea: histology, gonadal index and size at first sexual maturity

This study tracked the reproductive cycle of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast using histology and gonadal index measurements, establishing a local seasonal spawning calendar and determining size at first sexual maturity, relevant to fisheries management of this commercially important species.

Tackling marine plastic pollution in Morocco: A review of current research, regulatory measures, and future challenges

Initial Discovery of Microplastic Presence in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Certain Fish Species in Al-Hoceima Bay

Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy was used to assess microplastic presence in the gastrointestinal tracts of 90 mackerel and gilthead sea bream from Al-Hoceima Bay in the Mediterranean, finding microplastics in 33% of fish overall. Occurrence was 26% in mackerel and 40% in sea bream, highlighting significant contamination in a key Mediterranean fishing area.

Plastic pollution in a special protected area for migratory birds

This study measured plastic pollution — including microplastics — in a special protected area designated for migratory birds, finding widespread contamination despite the area's protected status. The presence of plastics poses ingestion and entanglement risks to bird species that rely on the habitat.

Assessing Microplastic Levels in the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area: Effects on Finding Pollution Hotspots and Devising Conservation Strategies

Researchers used underwater gliders equipped with sensors to map microplastic concentrations throughout the water column of the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area in Morocco. The spatial data revealed pollution hotspots within the protected zone, demonstrating that current conservation boundaries are insufficient to prevent microplastic contamination from degrading protected marine habitats.

Electrocoagulation as a Possible Treatment for Wastewater Contaminated with Microplastics - A Review

This review examined electrocoagulation and hybrid membrane technologies as innovative approaches for removing microplastics from wastewater, noting that MPs are omnipresent pollutants capable of biomagnification. The review covered the effectiveness of electrochemical processes, advanced oxidation, and membrane filtration systems including their combination for enhanced microplastic removal.

Increasing risk of invasions by organisms on marine debris in the Southeast coast of India

Researchers examined plastic and other litter washed up on eight beaches in southeast India, identifying 17 species colonizing the debris including one invasive mussel not native to the region. The study is the first to document marine litter as a pathway for invasive species transport along India's coastline, where plastic consumption and pollution levels are among the highest in the world.