Naslov
Floating plastics in Adriatic waters (Mediterranean Sea): From the macro- to the micro-scale

Autori
Zeri, Christina ; Adamopoulou, Aikaterini, Bojanić Varezić, Dubravka ; Fortibuoni, Tomaso ; Kovač Viršek, Manca ; Kržan, Andrej ; Mandić, Milica ; Mazziotti, Cristina ; Palatinus, Andreja ; Peterlin, Monika ; Prvan, Mosor ; Ronchi, Francesca ; Šiljić, Jasna ; Tutman, Pero ; Vlachogianni, Thomais

Izvornik
Marine pollution bulletin (0025-326X) 136 (2018); 341-350

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Marine litter, Microplastics, Spatial distribution, Polymers, Fragmentation, Mediterranean Sea

Sažetak
Macro- and microplastics abundances were determined in the Adriatic Sea following the MSFD TG10 protocol. The studied areas included populated gulfs, river outlets and offshore waters in five Adriatic countries. The use of small ships enabled us to detect small sized plastics (2.5–5 cm) and record average macroplastics densities of 251 ± 601 items km−2, one order of magnitude higher than previously considered. Results from manta net tows for microplastics revealed an average abundance of 315, 009 ± 568, 578 items km−2 (217 ± 575 g km−2). We found significantly higher microplastics abundances in nearshore (≤4 km) than in offshore waters (> 4 km) and this trend seems to affect also the small sized macro plastic fragments (2.5–5 cm). The dominant polymers were polyethylene and polypropylene while the presence of some rare polymers and waxes used in food and dentistry indicated waste water treatment plants as potential sources of microplastics.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

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