We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic contamination of sandy beaches of national parks, protected and recreational areas in southern parts of the Baltic Sea
ClearPlastic contamination of sandy beaches along the southern Baltic – a one season field survey results
Researchers surveyed microplastic and macroplastic contamination along the Polish Baltic Sea coast, finding microplastic concentrations of 118–1,382 pieces/kg in beach sand and 0.61–2.76 pieces/dm3 in coastal waters, with sub-1 mm blue fibers dominating across all sites and suggesting a common fibrous source throughout the Polish coastal zone.
Microplastics on sandy beaches of the southern Baltic Sea
Microplastics were detected on all 12 beaches along the Polish Baltic coast at concentrations of 76 to 295 items per kilogram of sediment, with fibers and fragments dominant and no strong relationship to sediment grain size. Urban beaches had the highest concentrations, though beach hydrodynamics also played a significant role in structuring local microplastic distribution.
Plastic pollution on the Baltic beaches of Kaliningrad region, Russia
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination on Baltic Sea beaches in Russia's Kaliningrad region between 2015 and 2016, finding 1.3 to 36.3 items per kg dry sediment with foamed plastic predominating, and detecting no clear difference in contamination levels between high- and low-traffic beach sites.
From macro to micro: dataset on plastic contamination along and across a sandy tide-less coast (the Curonian Spit, the Baltic Sea)
This dataset documents the distribution and abundance of plastic litter across size classes — from macroplastic to microplastic — on beaches of the Curonian Spit UNESCO Reserve in the Baltic Sea. The data provide a baseline for tracking plastic pollution in a sensitive protected coastal environment.
From macro to micro, from patchy to uniform: Analyzing plastic contamination along and across a sandy tide-less coast
A survey of a protected coastline in Lithuania found that while macrolitter is patchy and variable, microplastics (0.5–5 mm) are far more uniform, averaging over 3,000 particles per square meter of beach sand. Even in protected natural areas, microplastic contamination is pervasive.
Microplastics in seawater and fish acquired from the corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea
Microplastics were detected in 100% of seawater and 61% of fish samples collected from corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea, with mean abundances of 19,984 items/m³ in seawater and 3.3 items per fish. The co-sampling design linking fish MP loads to their water column environment provided direct evidence of aquatic exposure driving tissue contamination.
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.
The effect of tourism on microplastic pollution amount in Baltic Sea Region lakes
Researchers measured microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments from 10 lakes in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland across spring, summer, and autumn 2023, finding that tourism pressure in lake catchment areas correlates with elevated microplastic contamination levels.
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.
Microplastics distribution in bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea Proper
Researchers found microplastics in Baltic Sea Proper bottom sediments ranging from 103 to 10,179 items per kg dry weight across 53 samples, with abundance increasing significantly with water depth. Fibrous particles dominated at 74.5% and appeared to behave as a distinct type of 'synthetic sediment,' following erosion-transition-accumulation patterns similar to natural sediment.
Pollution of Beach Sand from Selected Recreational Reservoirs by Microplastics
Researchers analyzed beach sand samples from three recreational reservoirs in southern Poland (Silesian Voivodship) to assess microplastic pollution levels in freshwater beach environments. The study found microplastics present in beach sand across all sampled sites, contributing to evidence that sediments and beach sands serve as long-term microplastic sinks in aquatic environments.
Micro- and Mesoplastic Monitoring on Beaches: Understanding Seasonal and Spatial Distribution Patterns
Researchers monitored microplastic abundance and composition across 11 Latvian Baltic Sea beaches over four seasons from autumn 2022 to summer 2023, finding that seasonal climate patterns and proximity to the Gulf of Riga influence both microplastic load and spatial distribution along the northeastern European coastline.
Abundance and characterization of microplastics on sandy beaches along the coastal area of Belize
Researchers quantified and characterized microplastic abundance on sandy beaches along the coastal zone of Belize, establishing baseline contamination data for a region of Central America and the Caribbean where such pollution assessments are critically lacking.
Sources and fate of microplastics in marine and beach sediments of the Southern Baltic Sea—a preliminary study
Researchers investigated microplastic sources and distribution in marine and beach sediments of the southern Baltic Sea — one of the most polluted regional seas — using density extraction and FT-IR identification. The study found widespread contamination with significant variability tied to local sources and hydrodynamic transport patterns.
Mikroplastik Pada Sedimen di Zona Pemukiman, Zona Perlindungan Bahari dan Zona Pemanfaatan Darat Kepulauan Karimunjawa, Jepara
This Indonesian study investigated microplastic types and abundances in sediments across different zones of the Karimunjawa National Park, comparing residential, marine protected, and buffer zones. The results show that even protected marine areas in Indonesia are not immune to microplastic contamination.
Spatial distribution of macro- and micro-litter items along rocky and sandy beaches of a Marine Protected Area in the western Mediterranean Sea
Macro- and micro-litter were mapped across rocky and sandy beaches within a marine protected area in the Balearic Islands, finding a mean macrolitter concentration of about 1.9 items per square meter and widespread microplastic presence in sandy sediments. Plastic fragments and films were the dominant litter categories, highlighting recreational pressure even in protected coastal areas.
The first report on the occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Baltic Sea (Poland)
Researchers conducted the first comprehensive study of microplastic contamination in both seawater and commercial fish species from the Baltic Sea, collecting surface and water-column samples from multiple sub-regions and examining fish caught as bycatch of Baltic herring, finding microplastics were detected in 100% of fish examined.
Plastic debris composition and concentration in the Arctic Ocean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Researchers sampled plastic debris in the Arctic Ocean rim, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea using Manta trawls, finding microplastics at all 11 locations with generally low concentrations averaging 0.06 particles/m3, but with highest concentrations near the Arctic Ocean and polystyrene and polyethylene as dominant polymers.
A large-scale investigation of microplastic contamination: Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in European beach sediment
This large-scale investigation characterized microplastic contamination across a wide geographic area, documenting abundance and polymer types and providing a baseline dataset for tracking pollution trends over time.
Abundance, composition, and distribution of microplastics larger than 20 μm in sand beaches of South Korea
A national survey of 20 sandy beaches along the South Korean coast found microplastics at all locations, with fragments as the dominant type and concentrations varying by beach exposure and proximity to population centers. The study establishes a national baseline for beach microplastic contamination to support monitoring and management policy in South Korea.
Microplastic contamination in Auckland (New Zealand) beach sediments
Researchers conducted the first large-scale investigation of microplastic contamination in beach sediments across 39 sites in Auckland, New Zealand, finding contamination at the majority of beaches surveyed. Mean abundance varied by coastal environment type, with estuarine and harbour sites generally showing higher concentrations than open ocean beaches.
Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments
Beach sands from three locations on the Indian coast were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations of 45–220 particles/kg dry sand with polyethylene (43%) as the dominant polymer, followed by PET and polystyrene. The study establishes baseline contamination data for Indian beaches and demonstrates consistent polymer profiles across geographically distinct coastal environments.
A global snapshot of microplastic contamination in sediments and biota of marine protected areas
A global snapshot of microplastic contamination in sediments and biota across marine protected areas (MPAs) found that microplastics are ubiquitous even in these conservation zones, undermining their protective function. The review synthesizes occurrence data and calls for microplastic monitoring to be integrated into MPA management plans.
Microplastic concentrations in beach sediments along the German Baltic coast
Researchers measured microplastic contamination on beaches along the German Baltic coast near river estuaries and tracked seasonal variation over several months, finding contamination at all sites. The study highlights that river mouths are hotspots for microplastic deposition on coastal beaches.