Microplastics in sediments from the littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea),

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science,
Volume 205,
2018,
Pages 1-9,
ISSN 0272-7714,

Abstract:

The distribution of microplastics (MPs) was investigated in
the sediments of five sampling sites from the northern Tunisian coast
during June 2017. MPs were categorized according to type, colour and
size. Representative MPs from the five sites were isolated for polymer
identification using Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy in
attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR). Results showed that MPs
were recovered, from all sediment samples, indicating for the first
time, their extensive distribution in Tunisian coast. Concentrations
varied from 141.20 ± 25.98 to 461.25 ± 29.74 items kg−1 dry weight.
Fibres, fragments, Styrofoam®, pellets and films were the types
registered in this study. With the exception of Menzel Bourguiba (MB),
fibres significantly outnumbered plastic particles followed by
fragments, Styrofoam®, films and pellets. The predominant colours are as
follows: black > clear > white > red > blue > green for fibres,
blue > white > clear > red > green > yellow > black for fragments,
blue > white > black > clear for films while only white pellets and
Styrofoam® were found. MPs particles ranged from 0.1 to 5 mm in length.
A total of three polymer types were identified, polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). Except for industrial pellets,
the presence of MPs is likely due to the degradation of marine plastic
debris accumulating in each site. This work provides original data of
the presence of MPs in coastal sediments from Northern Tunisian coast.
Keywords: Microplastics; Sediment; FTIR-ATR; Northern Tunisia

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1S8wNX6OTqilFGAwjBgNDWToYEqbDNOnR
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.03.006.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771417310806)

The post Microplastics in sediments from the littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea) appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã
River, Portugal),

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 633, 15
August 2018, Pages 1549-1559, ISSN 0048-9697,

Abstract:

Microplastics (particles with a size < 5 mm), one of the most emerging
aquatic pollutants, are of particular concern since they can reach high
densities and interact with biotic and abiotic environment. The
occurrence of microplastics in freshwater systems is less understood
than in marine environment. Hence, the present study aims to provide new
insights into microplastics abundances and distribution in Antuã River
(Portugal) by applying the isolation method of wet peroxide oxidation
with addition of zinc chloride to water and sediment samples collected
in March and October 2016, in three sampling sites. The abundance of
microplastics in water ranged from 5 to 8.3 mg m−3 or 58–193 items m−3
in March and from 5.8–51.7 mg m−3 or 71–1265 items m−3 in October. In
sediments, the abundance ranged from 13.5–52.7 mg kg−1 or 100–629 items
kg−1 in March and from 2.6–71.4 mg kg−1 or 18–514 items kg−1 in October.
The water and sediment samples with the greatest abundances were from
São João da Madeira and Aguincheira, respectively. Spatio-temporal
distribution showed different pattern according to methodological
approaches, seasonal and hydrodynamic conditions and the proximity to
urban/industry areas. Analysis of plastics by Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy underline polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common
polymer types identified in this work. The low medium high oxidation
ratio was 56:22:22 (%) in March and 61:31:8 (%) in October. Foams and
fibers were the most abundant type in São João da Madeira, while fibers
and fragments were the most abundant in Aguincheira and Estarreja in
water and sediment samples, respectively. This study emphasizes the
importance of rivers as carriage systems of microplastics. Further
studies should be performed to identify point sources in order to
mitigate the microplastics contamination in aquatic systems.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nH49vUagp8VOyd9POU59LpI_a_WKpxsc
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.233.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718309926)

The post Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal) appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

A new approach in separating microplastics from environmental samples based on their electrostatic behavior,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 234, 2018, Pages 20-28, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:
Numerous studies on microplastics (MPs; Ø < 5 mm) in the aquatic environment have been published, but knowledge about the occurrence and ecological risks of MPs is limited. This is in part because current data on the distribution of MPs are comparable only to a limited extent, due to the many different methods of investigation. In
addition, sample preparation is often difficult such that standard procedures are lacking.
The aim of this work was to simplify the preparation of different kinds of MP samples. Our method makes use of
the electrostatic behavior of plastic particles to facilitate their separation from sample matter, with up to 99% of the original sample mass removed without any loss of MPs. To determine the efficacy of this approach, four different materials (quartz sand, freshwater suspended particulate matter, freshwater sediment, and beach sand) were spiked
with MPs (size: 0.063–5 mm from the seven most common types of plastics, one bioplastic type, polyethylene fibers, and tire wear.
A modified electrostatic metal/plastic separator was used to reduce the sample mass and concentrate the plastics based on their physical separation. The recovery achieved with this method was as high as nearly 100% for each
type of material.
The method was then tested on plastic particles of different shapes and types isolated from the Rhine River. These were successfully electroseparated from the four materials, which demonstrated the utility of this method. Its advantages include the simplified handling and preparation of different field samples as well as a much shorter processing time, because after the last separation step there is hardly any biological material remaining in the sample fraction.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uRCDgM78woSWFDaJPP6kVfgk-ziATjYy
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.013.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117316548)

The post A new approach in separating microplastics from environmental samples based on their electrostatic behavior appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Available online 7 March 2018, ISSN 0272-7714

Abstract:

The distribution of microplastics (MPs) was investigated in the
sediments of five sampling sites from the northern Tunisian coast during
June 2017. MPs were categorized according to type, colour and size.
Representative MPs from the five sites were isolated for polymer
identification using Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy in
attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR). Results showed that MPs
were recovered, from all sediment samples, indicating for the first
time, their extensive distribution in Tunisian coast. Concentrations
varied from 141.20 ± 25.98 to 461.25 ± 29.74 items kg−1 dry weight.
Fibres, fragments, Styrofoam®, pellets and films were the types
registered in this study. With the exception of Menzel Bourguiba (MB),
fibres significantly outnumbered plastic particles followed by
fragments, Styrofoam®, films and pellets. The predominant colours are as
follows: black > clear > white > red > blue > green for fibres,
blue > white > clear > red > green > yellow > black for fragments,
blue > white > black > clear for films while only white pellets and
Styrofoam® were found. MPs particles ranged from 0.1 to 5 mm in length.
A total of three polymer types were identified, polyethylene (PE),
polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). Except for industrial pellets,
the presence of MPs is likely due to the degradation of marine plastic
debris accumulating in each site. This work provides original data of
the presence of MPs in coastal sediments from Northern Tunisian coast.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1S8wNX6OTqilFGAwjBgNDWToYEqbDNOnR

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.03.006.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771417310806)

The post Microplastics in sediments from the littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea), Coastal and Shelf Science appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Microplastics in sediments from the  littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea),

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Available online 7 March 2018,  ISSN 0272-7714,

Abstract:

The distribution of microplastics (MPs) was investigated in the  sediments of five sampling sites from the northern Tunisian coast during
June 2017. MPs were categorized according to type, colour and size.

Representative MPs from the five sites were isolated for polymer identification using Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy in
attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR). Results showed that MPs were recovered, from all sediment samples, indicating for the first
time, their extensive distribution in Tunisian coast.
Concentrations varied from 141.20 ± 25.98 to 461.25 ± 29.74 items kg−1 dry weight.

Fibres, fragments, Styrofoam®, pellets and films were the types registered in this study. With the exception of Menzel Bourguiba (MB),
fibres significantly outnumbered plastic particles followed by fragments, Styrofoam®, films and pellets.
The predominant colours are as follows:
black > clear > white > red > blue > green for fibres,
blue > white > clear > red > green > yellow > black for fragments,
blue > white > black > clear for films while only white pellets and Styrofoam® were found.
MPs particles ranged from 0.1 to 5 mm in length.

A total of three polymer types were identified, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). Except for industrial pellets,
the presence of MPs is likely due to the degradation of marine plastic debris accumulating in each site. This work provides original data of
the presence of MPs in coastal sediments from Northern Tunisian coast.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.03.006.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771417310806)

The post Microplastics in sediments from the littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast – Mediterranean Sea appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..