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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Spatio-Temporal Variability of Anthropogenic and Natural Wrack Accumulations along the Driftline: Marine Litter Overcomes Wrack in the Northern Sandy Beaches of Portugal
ClearAbundance and Distribution of Cigarette Butts on Coastal Environments: Examples from Southern Spain
This study surveyed cigarette butt (CB) abundance on beaches across southern Spain, finding a mean of 159 and median of 68 CBs per 100 meters of beach length. Urban beaches and sand beaches accumulated the most butts, with beach visitor numbers and cleaning frequency as the main controlling factors.
Anthropogenic Litter on Beaches With Different Levels of Development and Use: A Snapshot of a Coast in Pernambuco (Brazil)
Beach litter was surveyed at nine sites in northeastern Brazil, finding plastic dominated at all beach types but with differences in litter composition linked to local activities. Characterizing litter sources at specific beaches is essential for targeted waste reduction policies.
Spatio-temporal distribution of cigarette butt contamination in urban beaches with varying levels of use.
Researchers assessed cigarette butt contamination on two urban beaches in Recife, Brazil over nine months, finding that contamination levels correlated with beach use intensity, with butts at varying degradation stages, and that brand composition varied temporally and spatially across sampling events.
Litter assessment on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast: a large-scale analysis of macrolitter and microplastics
Researchers conducted a large-scale assessment of macrolitter and microplastic contamination on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast, characterizing pollution patterns, dominant polymer types, and potential anthropogenic sources across multiple sites.
Cigarette butt pollution in popular beaches of Morocco: Abundance, distribution, and mitigation measures
This study surveyed cigarette butt pollution on eleven Moroccan Mediterranean beaches from 2018 to 2023, finding cigarette butts were the most common type of litter. Pollution levels varied by beach type, season, and visitor density, highlighting the need for targeted local action against this major source of plastic waste.
Monitoring marine litter on Funchal beaches (Madeira Island): Insights for litter management
Researchers monitored beach litter on Madeira Island over two years and found cigarette butts and plastic items made up over 60% of debris, most of it originating on land, and used these findings to recommend targeted local interventions like awareness campaigns and restrictions on single-use plastics.
Characteristics (abundance, type and origin) of beach litter on the Galician coast (NW Spain) from 2001 to 2010
Researchers monitored beach litter on three Galician beaches over ten years, counting nearly 38,000 litter items and finding that plastic was the dominant material at 63-83% of all debris. The fishing and aquaculture sector was identified as the main source, highlighting the need for better waste management practices in the fishing industry.
What, where, and when: Spatial-temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor of the western and central Mediterranean sea
Using fishery-independent monitoring data from the western Mediterranean, this study characterized the spatial and temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor, identifying accumulation hotspots to guide marine litter management efforts.
Is the weight of plastic litter correlated with vegetal wrack? A case study from a Central Italian beach
Researchers found that vegetal wrack on a central Italian beach acts as a trap for plastic litter, with large microplastics (2.5-5 mm) being the most abundant size category, suggesting plant material entrapment plays a role in coastal plastic accumulation.
Different faces of cigarette butts, the most abundant beach litter worldwide.
Cigarette butts collected from an urban beach were characterized at different stages of physical and chemical degradation, revealing they shed cellulose acetate microplastic fibers and leach toxic chemicals as they break down. As the most abundant beach litter worldwide, cigarette butts represent a significant but often overlooked source of plastic fibers and chemical contamination in marine environments.
Assessment of marine litter on Morocco’s Mediterranean beaches
Researchers assessed marine litter on four Mediterranean beaches in Morocco over a seasonal cycle in 2018-2019 following UNEP/MAP guidelines, collecting an average of 1,768 items/100 m at 0.34 items/m2. Plastic and polystyrene accounted for 74.1% of total debris, with tourism and recreational waste representing the dominant source (52%), and plastic fragments, cigarette butts, and bottle caps comprising nearly half of all items.
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.
Microplastic distribution within core sediments of beach and its responses to anthropogenic activities
Researchers analyzed vertical microplastic distribution in beach sediment cores at five sites, finding that accumulation patterns in deeper layers reflect historical changes in human activities and coastal management, with anthropogenic pressure intensity correlating with microplastic depth profiles.
Marine Litter on the Coast of the Algarve: Main Sources and Distribution Using a Modeling Approach
Scientists used a regional ocean circulation model to estimate sources and distribution of marine litter along the Algarve coast of Portugal, finding that local sources combined with offshore currents drive accumulation on beaches. The modeling approach can help target cleanup and prevention efforts in coastal tourism zones.
Effects of spatial and seasonal factors on the characteristics and carbonyl index of (micro)plastics in a sandy beach in Aveiro, Portugal
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination on a Portuguese sandy beach across wet and dry seasons, finding that surface concentrations were dominated by polyethylene pellets in the wet season (3-6 items/m) and that density separation revealed fibers at 23 times higher concentrations. Seasonal and spatial factors significantly influenced particle type, size, and carbonyl index, highlighting how sampling method choice affects pollution estimates.
Occurrence and Degradation of Single-Use Plastic in Coastal Area
The occurrence and degradation of single-use plastics were studied on urban beaches in Tallinn, Estonia, where direct littering by beach visitors was identified as the primary source. Litter levels correlated strongly with visitor numbers and decreased significantly during winter. The findings support targeted litter prevention campaigns focused on high-use beach seasons and locations.
Species-specific plastic accumulation in the sediment and canopy of coastal vegetated habitats
A multi-habitat study of coastal vegetated areas in Portugal found that saltmarsh vegetation showed the strongest ability to trap macroplastics in sediment, while microplastics were distributed similarly across all habitat types. Subtidal habitats retained more microplastic fibers on their canopy than intertidal habitats, highlighting how plant structure and submersion depth influence plastic accumulation.
Spatial and temporal trends of marine litter in the Spanish Mediterranean seafloor
Researchers analyzed 11 years of MEDITS trawl survey data to map marine litter on the Spanish Mediterranean seafloor, finding plastics were the most abundant litter by weight, that densities varied significantly by region, and that overall litter levels remained stable or slightly decreased over the study period.
Plastic pollution monitoring in the wrack line: baseline and seasonality trends along several coastlines from Brittany (Erquy, France)
Researchers established baseline measurements and seasonal trends of plastic pollution in the wrack line at multiple coastlines in Brittany, France, building on existing OSPAR and French national monitoring programs to provide comprehensive data on meso- and large microplastic accumulation patterns at beach monitoring sites.
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.
Revealing accumulation zones of plastic pellets in sandy beaches
Researchers evaluated plastic pellet accumulation across 13 sandy beaches in São Paulo state, Brazil, using transects and vertical sediment profiles to one meter depth, identifying regional accumulation hotspots near ports and factories and finding that coastal dunes accumulated more pellets than backshores, with most concentrated in the top 40 cm.
Difference between invasive alien and native vegetation in trapping beach litter: A focus on a typical sandy beach of W-Mediterranean Basin
Beach litter surveys on a Mediterranean sandy beach found that plastic dominated all litter categories, with habitat type affecting distribution patterns, and areas invaded by Carpobrotus acinaciformis trapping more litter than native vegetation plots.
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.
A first assessment of marine meso-litter and microplastics on beaches: Where does Mauritius stand?
Researchers conducted the first assessment of marine meso-litter and microplastics around Mauritius Island in the South West Indian Ocean, sampling 12 sites and finding plastics as the dominant litter type with highest microplastic densities at the vegetation line zone. Shoreline and recreational activities were identified as the main litter source.