Floating microplastics and aggregate formation in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin
William P de HaanNUREIEV1 Shipboard Scientific Party

Abstract

Pollution by large-sized plastics and microplastic debris is widespread in all Earth environments, also threatening marine ecosystems worldwide. In this study we determine the load of microplastics in the Western Mediterranean Sea and evaluate their aggregation potential into marine aggregates. We report average microplastic abundances of 0.10 ± 0.09 items m-2 (max: 0.50 items m-2). Abundances and chemical composition of microplastics are subject to temporal changes as a function of human activities in the areas of influence and shifting meteorological and sea-state conditions. We find that microplastics were on average smaller in mass than other studies conducted in the Mediterranean Sea indicating longer exposure times in the environment. The microplastic aggregation potential was determined by inspecting formed biogenic aggregates either during sample collection or in the laboratory. Smaller and more angular microplastics dominated in marine aggregates, representing an average 40% in abundance and 25% in mass of microplastics.

Citations

Mar 27, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Navarro Ferronato, Vincenzo Torretta
Dec 1, 2019·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Asli Numanoglu GencLale Balas
Oct 23, 2020·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Melinda Paduani
Nov 19, 2020·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Chiara SchmidElena Zambello
Jan 16, 2021·Scientific Reports·Anna Sanchez-VidalMarta Veny
May 19, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Oriol Rodríguez-RomeuAnna Soler-Membrives
Apr 25, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Fahmida ParvinShafi M Tareq
May 26, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Eoghan M CunninghamJaimie T A Dick
Jun 1, 2021·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Fernando G Torres, Gabriel E De-la-Torre
May 25, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Andrey Ethan RubinInes Zucker
Jul 6, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Annika VaksmaaHelge Niemann
Jul 30, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Feifei WangQiujin Xu
Jul 23, 2021·Environmental Science & Technology·Amit Kumar SarkarInes Zucker
Jul 3, 2021·Science·Lisa WeissPhilippe Kerhervé
Jul 31, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jean-Baptiste Fleury, Vladimir A Baulin
Jul 5, 2021·Journal of Applied Microbiology·Andrew R CowanSuzy C Moody
Aug 20, 2021·Chemosphere·Ghada Tagorti, Bülent Kaya
Sep 5, 2020·Environmental Science & Technology·Robyn Joanna WrightJoseph Christie-Oleza
Jul 16, 2021·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Yaping CaiBernd Nowack
Jan 15, 2022·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Reza PashaeiBoguslaw Buszewski
Dec 17, 2021·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Jana Asselman
Dec 21, 2021·Advances in Nutrition·María-Carmen López de Las HazasAlberto Dávalos

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Waste Management & Research : the Journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA
P Agamuthu
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Albert A KoelmansCourtney Arthur
Waste Management & Research : the Journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA
Fauziah Shahul HamidAgamuthu Periathamby
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved