| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.69 MB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The persistent accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in sediments poses ecological risks to benthic organisms and contributes to the broader issue of marine pollution. This study quantitatively analysed MPs in sediments, water and mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from eleven sites of the South Portuguese coast in two contrasting climatic seasons (summer and winter). MPs were detected in sediments, water, and M. galloprovincialis at all study sites, although their abundance, colour, size, and type varied across compartments, locations, and seasons. Three hot spots of MPs contamination were identified at the South Portuguese coast. In these areas, the concentration of MPs in sediments was three orders of magnitude higher than water and mussels. The MPs identified had distinct colour patterns: transparent particles dominated in sediments, while blue was the most common in water and mussels. A size-dependent accumulation pattern was observed in the sediments, suggesting selective retention of MPs according to natural particle size, and a relationship was observed between MP levels in sediments and in mussels. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were dominant polymers in sediments while PP, PE and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were consistently present in water and mussels. Polybuthyl methachrylate (PBMA) was also detected in surface water and ingested by mussels. These findings suggest that variability in MPs abundance and polymer composition is linked to differences in local human activities. They also provide strong evidence for the importance of controlling land-based sources of MPs, particularly those transported to the coastal area by transported by rivers.
Description
Keywords
Microplastics Sediments Mussels Water Mytilus galloprovincialis Plastic polymers
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Publisher
Elsevier