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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Geochemical investigation of tar balls collected on a beach on Žirje Island (Croatia) using petroleum biomarkers
ClearPlastitar in the Mediterranean Sea: New records and the first geochemical characterization of these novel formations.
This study reports the widespread occurrence of 'plastitar' — a novel formation of plastic debris fused with petroleum tar — along Mediterranean coastlines, following its initial description from the Canary Islands. The authors found hundreds of plastic particles per kilogram of tar surveyed and characterized the geochemistry of these formations, representing a new type of plastic pollution in coastal environments.
New Plastitar Record for the Mediterranean Sea: Characterization of Plastics and Tar from the Salento Peninsula (Ionian Sea)
This study characterized 'plastitar' blocks — fused mixtures of tar, microplastics, and natural debris — collected from the Ionian coast of southern Italy, identifying the polymer types and petroleum-based compounds embedded within them. These hybrid pollution objects are a largely overlooked form of coastal contamination that concentrate both plastic and hydrocarbon pollutants in marine shoreline environments.
Karakterizacija mikroplastike iz sedimenata plaže
Researchers characterized microplastics in beach sediment samples from Croatia, finding diverse shapes, colors, and polymer types consistent with fragmented packaging and textile debris. The study contributes to understanding microplastic contamination on Adriatic Sea beaches.
New Plastitar Record for the Mediterranean Sea: Characterization of Plastics and Tar from the Salento Peninsula (Ionian Sea)
Researchers documented a new occurrence of Plastitar -- aggregates of tar, microplastics, and natural materials -- on the Salento Peninsula coastline of the Ionian Sea, characterizing the plastic and tar components using spectroscopic and chemical analysis. The study adds to Mediterranean records of this composite pollution form and discusses its ecological implications for coastal and marine biota.
Microplastic and tar pollution on three Canary Islands beaches: An annual study
Researchers monitored large microplastics, mesoplastics, and tar pollution across three exposed Canary Islands beaches for a full year, finding great spatial and temporal variability in debris concentrations driven by seasonal patterns and local oceanographic conditions.
Tar patties are hotspots of hydrocarbon turnover and nitrogen fixation during a nearshore pollution event in the oligotrophic southeastern Mediterranean Sea
After an oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea, researchers found that tar patties washed ashore became hotspots of microbial activity, with communities of bacteria actively breaking down hydrocarbons. The study reveals how tar and plastic debris in marine environments interact with microbial communities, affecting local ocean chemistry.
Plastitar: A new threat for coastal environments
Researchers described 'plastitar,' a novel coastal material formed when oil tar residues solidify and incorporate microplastics, sand, and organic debris on rocky shores, identifying it as an emerging threat to coastal ecosystems because it can concentrate and slowly release both hydrocarbons and plastic pollutants.
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.
A new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments
Researchers developed a new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics specifically in marine sediments, improving extraction and identification steps to enable more reliable and standardized environmental monitoring of seafloor contamination.
Environmental Markers of Plastics and Microplastics
Scientists identified specific chemical compounds released as polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC microplastics break down in the environment, and showed these compounds can be used as markers to detect microplastic contamination on natural sand. This method could help screen beaches and other environments for microplastic pollution more efficiently, which matters because these degradation products can affect ecosystems and human health.
Spectroscopy of Marine Microplastic – qualitative and quantitative approach, interface characterization, selected case studies and main challenges
Researchers presented outcomes from spectroscopy studies of marine microplastics including polar regions, food web transfer experiments, and complex matrix identification. The multi-site approach demonstrated how spectroscopic techniques can characterize microplastics across diverse environmental and biological contexts.
Plastic debris in the Mediterranean Sea: Types, occurrence and distribution along Adriatic shorelines
Researchers investigated plastic debris in sediments from five beaches on the Northern Adriatic coast, finding a mean density of 12.1 items per kg dry weight and characterising debris types using FT-IR spectroscopy in the first such assessment for this region.
Rapid Identification of Beached Marine Plastics Pellets Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Promising Tool for the Quantification of Coastal Pollution
Researchers applied laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with chemometric analysis to rapidly identify and classify beached plastic pellets by polymer type, achieving over 80% accuracy and demonstrating its potential as a fast, field-deployable tool for coastal pollution monitoring.
Microplastics at the strandlines of Slovenian beaches
Researchers collected sediment samples from nine locations along the Slovenian Adriatic coast and found microplastics at all sites, with 11.3% of isolated particles confirmed as synthetic polymers by ATR-FTIR, dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers.
Microplastic pollution on sandy beaches of Puerto Rico
Researchers sampled sand from six northern beaches of Puerto Rico to determine microplastic abundance and composition, documenting the extent of microplastic pollution on Caribbean island coastal beaches that are considered biodiversity hotspots.
Characteristics of sediments and microplastic load in the beach and subtidal sediments of Lopar, Rab Island
Researchers analyzed beach and subtidal sediment samples from three coves on Rab Island, Croatia, finding high microplastic loads at all sites regardless of water depth. Tourism and industry were identified as the primary pollution sources, with fibers and fragments as the most common particle types.
Litter & microplastics features in table salts from marine origin: Italian versus Croatian brands
Researchers analyzed microplastic content in marine-origin table salts from Italian and Croatian commercial brands, finding microplastic contamination in all tested products with no macroplastic or mesoplastic particles recovered, and characterizing the size, shape, and polymer types present.
Spectroscopy of Marine Microplastic – qualitative and quantitative approach, interface characterization, selected case studies and main challenges
Researchers presented spectroscopic characterization of marine microplastics from polar regions, Mediterranean sites, and food web transfer experiments, demonstrating the versatility of spectroscopic tools across diverse research questions. The multi-study approach highlighted how spectroscopy can link environmental detection, species exposure, and ecotoxicity data.
Hidden problems in geological heritage sites: The microplastic issue on Saint Mary's Island, India, Southeast Arabian Sea
Researchers found microplastics in beach sediments of Saint Mary's Island, a geological heritage site in India's Arabian Sea, documenting their occurrence and distribution for the first time and highlighting how microplastic pollution threatens even protected geological sites.