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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Changes in (micro and macro) plastic pollution in the sediment of three sandy beaches in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in relation to seasonality, beach use and granulometry
ClearBeached microplastics in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea
Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence on two beaches in the Northwestern Mediterranean Gulf of Lion, finding significant concentrations of fragments and pellets in beach sediments with notable variation between beach zones and sampling periods over a one-month interval.
Microplastic beaching dependence on sediment grain size
Researchers sampled microplastics across a Mediterranean protected beach and found that accumulation is strongly influenced by sediment grain size — fine-grained sands trap more surface microplastics due to lower infiltration capacity — while fiber shape promotes entanglement in sediment pores and proximity to tourism and port activities drives spatial pollution hotspots.
Macro- and microplastic abundance from recreational beaches along the South Aegean Sea (Türkiye)
Researchers surveyed macro- and microplastic abundance in sand from eight recreational beaches along the South Aegean coast of Turkey, finding that fiber-shaped microplastics dominated at all sites and concentrations varied seasonally.
Microplastics spatiotemporal distribution and variability in marine habitats along the North-Western Mediterranean coastal waters.
Researchers assessed microplastic spatiotemporal distribution across multiple Mediterranean marine habitat types including water surface, sediment, and biota, revealing significant variability by location and season. The multi-compartment approach showed that no single habitat type captures the full extent of microplastic contamination.
Microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea: Deposition in coastal shallow sediments, spatial variation and preferential grain size
Researchers sampled Mediterranean coastal shallow sediments and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and polymer types reflecting land-based inputs and showing that coastal sediments are a significant regional reservoir for plastic debris.
Short-term tourism alters abundance, size, and composition of microplastics on sandy beaches
Researchers sampled microplastics on nine sandy beaches along the Turkish Black Sea coast before and after the tourism season and found that tourist activity significantly increased microplastic abundance, altered size distributions, and changed polymer composition. The results provide direct field evidence that recreational beach use is a local source of microplastic pollution.
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.
Assessment of microplastics distribution and stratification in the shallow marine sediments of Samos island, Eastern Mediterranean sea, Greece
Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in shallow marine sediments around Samos Island, Greece, finding the highest concentrations on beaches and lower levels in deeper offshore sediments. The study suggests that beaches act as accumulation zones for microplastic pollution carried from land.
Microplastic accumulation dynamics in two Mediterranean beaches with contrasting inputs
Researchers monitored microplastic accumulation dynamics on two Mediterranean beaches with contrasting human pressures over multiple seasons, finding that beaches near urban areas accumulated MPs faster and showed greater concentration variability. Short-term accumulation events tied to storms and wind patterns were identified as key drivers of MP deposition.
Factors Influencing the Three-dimensional Distribution of Microplastics on Sandy Beaches: A Case Study from the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea
A study of nine Black Sea beaches in Turkey found that microplastic abundance varied significantly with beach width, sand grain size, organic content, and tourism pressure, revealing that local physical and human factors shape how microplastics accumulate across the three-dimensional sediment profile. These findings help explain why microplastic hotspots form on particular beaches and can guide targeted cleanup and monitoring efforts.
First full investigation of levels of microplastics on sandy beaches in Malta
This study conducted the first comprehensive survey of microplastic levels on sandy beaches in Malta, finding microplastics at all five sampled beaches including in protected coastal areas. The results establish baseline contamination levels for the central Mediterranean and document seasonal and spatial variability.
Relationships between sediment size distribution and microplastic abundance and characteristics along the strandline of a sandy embayment (Whitsand, Southwest England)
Researchers analyzed the relationship between sediment characteristics and microplastic distribution along a beach in southwest England. They found that microplastic abundance and type varied significantly across the strandline, with larger microplastics being more prevalent in coarser sediments. The study provides evidence that local sediment dynamics play an important role in determining where microplastics accumulate on sandy beaches.
Microplastics spatiotemporal distribution and variability in marine habitats along the North-Western Mediterranean coastal waters.
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across multiple marine habitat types along the Mediterranean coast, examining spatial and temporal variability from the water surface to the sediment. The study revealed that microplastic abundance and composition differ substantially by habitat, underscoring the need for multi-compartment monitoring.
Assessment of beach litter pollution in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco: a study of macro and meso-litter on Mediterranean beaches
Researchers surveyed 37 Mediterranean beaches in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia for plastic litter, finding that urban and tourist beaches were most heavily polluted, with macro-litter averaging over 5,000 pieces per 100 meters. The study also developed a faster, cost-effective monitoring method and concluded that beach cleaning alone cannot solve the problem — better waste management and public awareness are essential.
An evaluation of surface micro- and mesoplastic pollution in pelagic ecosystems of the Western Mediterranean Sea
Researchers found that micro- and mesoplastic debris were widely and uniformly distributed across the Western Mediterranean Sea, with average surface concentrations of approximately 130,000 microplastic particles per km2 and 5,700 mesoplastic particles per km2. Fragment morphology and polymer composition analysis indicated a predominantly land-based origin for the debris.
Spatio-temporal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics along the touristic beaches of a mediterranean coast transect (Valencia province, East Spain)
Researchers sampled microplastics from seven tourist beaches along Spain's Valencia coast in both winter and summer and found contamination levels nearly five times higher during the summer tourism season. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic, and polyethylene and halogenated polystyrene from food packaging were the dominant polymers identified. The study raises questions about whether current beach cleaning practices are sufficient to address microplastic pollution.
Micro- and macro-plastics in beach sediment of the Algerian western coast: First data on distribution, characterization, and source
Researchers conducted the first survey of micro- and macro-plastic pollution on nine beaches along 124 km of Algeria's western coast, finding plastic concentrations varying from 7.6 to 66 items/m2 with fragments dominating at 83% and pellets comprising nearly 15% of microplastics.
Microplastics levels, size, morphology and composition in marine water, sediments and sand beaches. Case study of Tarragona coast (western Mediterranean)
Researchers measured microplastic levels, sizes, shapes, and polymer types in coastal water, sediment, and beach sand along the Tarragona coast of the western Mediterranean, finding widespread contamination associated with nearby industrial facilities and a major petrochemical complex.
Effects of distance to the sea and geomorphological characteristics on the quantity and distribution of microplastics in beach sediments of Granada (Spain)
Researchers characterized microplastic pollution on three beaches along the Granada coast of Spain, examining how distance from the sea and geomorphological features influence microplastic quantity and polymer composition in beach sediments. The study establishes regional baseline contamination levels and identifies spatial distribution patterns relevant to national and EU marine pollution directives.
Seasonal distribution and abundance of microplastics in the coastal sediments of north eastern Arabian Sea
Researchers documented seasonal variation in microplastic abundance along India's North Eastern Arabian Sea coast, finding 4,400 to 15,300 items per kilogram of dry sediment with fibers as the dominant form across ten identified polymer types.
Spatiotemporal variations in rural and urban beach microplastics accumulation in sediment along Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, the Philippines
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in beach sand at urban and rural sites along a protected seascape in the Philippines across wet and dry seasons. They found significantly higher microplastic levels during the wet season, particularly at urban beaches, likely because rainfall washes more plastic debris from land into waterways. The most common plastics identified were polyester and polyethylene, suggesting sources from textiles and common consumer packaging.
Factors driving the abundance and distribution of microplastics on sandy beaches in a Southwest Atlantic seaside resort
Researchers investigated factors driving microplastic abundance on sandy beaches along the Southwest Atlantic coast, finding that both natural forces like wave energy and anthropogenic inputs influenced the distribution of fiber and fragment microplastics in surface sediments.
Spatio-temporal variability in the abundance and composition of beach litter and microplastics along the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Beach litter and microplastics (20-5000 microns) were co-assessed along the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein in spring and autumn 2018, finding no correlation between macro and microplastic abundances, with a median of 2 microplastic particles per 500 g dry sediment and six polymer types identified.
Identificación y cuantificación de microplásticos en sedimentos de tres playas recreativas de la costa de Campeche
Researchers identified and quantified microplastics in sediments from three recreational beaches in Campeche, Mexico, comparing concentrations across different seasons and sampling locations. The study found microplastics at all sites, with seasonal variation suggesting that weather patterns influence microplastic distribution on these tourist beaches.