Types, occurrence and distribution of microplastics in sediments from the northern Tyrrhenian Sea

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:153

Article

Mistri, Michele¹  Scoponi, Marco²  Granata, Tommaso³  Moruzzi, Letizia³  Massara, Francesca⁴  Munari, Cristina¹ 

[1] Univ Ferrara, Dept Chem & Pharmaceut Sci, Via Fossato Mortara 17, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy

[2] Adv Polymer Mat, Via G Saragat 9, I-44122 Ferrara, Italy

[3] CESI, Via Nino Bixio 39, I-29121 Piacenza, Italy

[4] TERNA, Vle E Galbani 70, I-00156 Rome, Italy

关键词: Microplastics;    Polymer composition;    Sediments;    Tyrrhenian Sea;    FT-IR spectroscopy;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111016

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

This is the first survey to investigate microplastic contamination in the Northern Tyrrhenian seafloor, along a 31 km-long transect from the port of Piombino (Tuscany) to the port of Portoferraio (Elba Island). Plastics extracted from 58 sediment samples were counted and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Plastic pollution occurred in sites closer to ports as well as in offshore stations. Microplastics (1-5 mm) accounted for over 80% of particles. For all samples, the dominant microplastic type was filaments, followed by fragments and films. Six polymers were identified: nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephtalate were the most common. This part of the Tyrrhenian Sea is a busy shipping route connecting the mainland to the Elba Island, with thousands cargo and passenger ships passing by per year. Our data constitute a baseline for microplastic research in the Tyrrhenian seafloor.

【 授权许可】

Free