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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic distribution in surface sediments along the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf
ClearMicroplastics 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.
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.
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.
Breaking the paradigm: Marine sediments hold two-fold microplastics than sea surface waters and are dominated by fibers
Researchers found that Mediterranean marine sediments contain approximately twice the microplastic concentration of sea surface waters, with fibers dominating across all habitats, challenging the paradigm that surface waters are the primary marine microplastic reservoir.
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.
Microplastic contamination in the Pletera beach
Researchers collected data on microplastic distribution — including microfragments and microfibers — across multiple stations along the Pletera beach in Spain. The dataset documents microplastic concentrations in sediment (items per kg) from two survey periods, providing a baseline for ongoing coastal pollution monitoring.
Beached microplastics in barcelonas shorelines
Researchers surveyed beached microplastics along Barcelona's shorelines to characterize the types, abundance, and distribution of plastic particles accumulating on urban Mediterranean beaches, contributing data to the growing body of evidence on coastal microplastic pollution in densely populated areas.
Novel methodology approach for assessing microplastic distribution in marine habitats along the Spanish Western Mediterranean coast
Researchers developed an innovative integrative methodology to assess spatiotemporal variation in microplastic abundance across sea surface and sediment habitats along the Spanish Western Mediterranean coast from 2017 to 2024, characterising distribution patterns at multiple spatial scales.
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.
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 sediments: a comparison within zones located worldwide with different impact
Researchers collected 25 sediment samples from six coastal areas worldwide spanning depths from 1 to 426 meters during 2022 and 2023 to compare microplastic abundance in zones with different levels of anthropogenic impact. They found a mean microplastic concentration of 308.81 items per kg dry weight across all sites, ranging from 20.79 items per kg in touristic Palma, Mallorca to 872.95 items per kg in the highly urbanized Ilha da Mare in Brazil, with fibers comprising approximately 95% of detected particles.
Distribution and characterization of microplastics in marine sediments from al-hoceima bay (southwestern mediterranean, morocco)
Researchers characterized the distribution and properties of microplastics in marine sediments from Al-Hoceima Bay on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, a biodiversity-rich area increasingly threatened by coastal development and maritime traffic through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Beneath the water column: Uncovering microplastic pollution in the sublittoral coastal sediments of the Canary Islands, Spain
This study examined microplastic prevalence and distribution in sublittoral coastal sediments around the Canary Islands, Spain, sampling 26 locations to characterize both synthetic and cellulosic particle contamination. The results establish a baseline for microplastic pollution in this Atlantic archipelago.
Microplastic pollution in sublittoral coastal sediments of a North Atlantic island: The case of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain)
Researchers found microplastic contamination in sublittoral coastal sediments at 5-7 m depth around La Palma island in the Canary Islands, with concentration varying by sampling location and depth within sediment cores.
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.
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.
Assessment of microplastic abundance and impact on recreational beaches along the western Algerian coastline
Researchers assessed microplastic abundance on three recreational beaches along the western Algerian coastline. The study found an average of about 55 microplastic items per square meter, predominantly fragments, and used a pollution index to characterize contamination levels, contributing important baseline data for understanding plastic pollution along the understudied North African Mediterranean coast.
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.
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.
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.