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Gambardella C, Miroglio R, Costa E, Cachot J, Morin B, Clérandeau C, Rotander A, Rocco K, d'Errico G, Almeda R, Alonso O, Grau E, Piazza V, Pittura L, Benedetti M, Regoli F, Faimali M, Garaventa F. New insights into the impact of leachates from in-field collected plastics on aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124233. [PMID: 38801877 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The impact of leachates from micronized beached plastics of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean on coastal marine ecosystems was investigated by using a multidisciplinary approach. Chemical analysis and ecotoxicological tests on phylogenetically distant species were performed on leachates from the following plastic categories: bottles, pellets, hard plastic (HP) containers, fishing nets (FN) and rapido trawling rubber (RTR). The bacteria Alivibrio fischeri, the nauplii of the crustaceans Amphibalanus amphitrite and Acartia tonsa, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, the embryos of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, the ephyrae of the jellyfish Aurelia sp. and the larvae of the medaka Oryzias latipes were exposed to different concentrations of leachates to evaluate lethal and sub-lethal effects. Thirty-one additives were identified in the plastic leachates; benzophenone, benzyl butyl phthalate and ethylparaben were present in all leachates. Ecotoxicity of leachates varied among plastic categories and areas, being RTR, HP and FN more toxic than plastic bottles and pellets to several marine invertebrates. The ecotoxicological results based on 13 endpoints were elaborated within a quantitative weight of evidence (WOE) model, providing a synthetic hazard index for each data typology, before their integrations in an environmental risk index. The WOE assigned a moderate and slight hazard to organisms exposed to leachates of FN and HP collected in the Mediterranean Sea respectively, and a moderate hazard to leachates of HP from the Atlantic Ocean. No hazard was found for pellet, bottles and RTR. These findings suggest that an integrated approach based on WOE on a large set of bioassays is recommended to get a more reliable assessment of the ecotoxicity of beached-plastic leachates. In addition, the additives leached from FN and HP should be further investigated to reduce high concentrations and additive types that could impact marine ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Gambardella
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy.
| | - Roberta Miroglio
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Elisa Costa
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Jérôme Cachot
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC UMR 5805, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Bénédicte Morin
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC UMR 5805, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | | | - Anna Rotander
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Kevin Rocco
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Giuseppe d'Errico
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Almeda
- EOMAR, ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain
| | - Olalla Alonso
- EOMAR, ECOAQUA, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain
| | - Etienne Grau
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Veronica Piazza
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Lucia Pittura
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maura Benedetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Faimali
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesca Garaventa
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (CNR-IAS), Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genova, Italy
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Vlachogianni T, Scoullos M. Baseline assessment of macrolitter on the coastline of Algeria: Fit-for-purpose data for tailor-made measures to navigate the Plasticene Age. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116646. [PMID: 38936004 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Curbing the growing threat of marine litter requires reliable, coherent and fit-for-purpose data. The present study reports the findings of beach macrolitter surveys carried out in seventeen sites along the coastline of Algeria. The median litter density recorded along these sites amounted to 578 items per 100 m of coastline (range: 317-2684 items/100 m). Every surveyed beach exceeded the European threshold value of 20 items per 100 m of coastline by a significant margin. In addition, the evaluation conducted employing the Mediterranean threshold value of 130 items per 100 m of coastline indicated that each of the seventeen surveyed beaches resides within the non-Good Environmental Status spectrum. A significant proportion of the litter, accounting for 43 %, is attributed to food and beverage consumption-related items, highlighting the impact of single-use food packaging, including food and beverage containers resulting from unsustainable practices mainly by beach users and inadequate waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomais Vlachogianni
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), Athens, Greece.
| | - Michael Scoullos
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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3
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Salinas CX, Palacios E, Pozo K, Torres M, Rebolledo L, Gómez V, Rondón R, de la Maza I, Galbán C. Marine litter pollution in a subantarctic beach of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas, Chile. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116313. [PMID: 38593713 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
This study assessed the presence of marine litter along the beach of the city of Punta Arenas, Chile. The sampling period coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 239 plastic waste items were identified out of a total of 638 litter items. The Clean Coast Index reported within this study ranged from Clean (CCI 2-5) to Extremely dirty (CCI >20), especially near the port. The majority of litter items has been classified as originating from varied origins, as it is not possible to pinpoint a precise origin in most items. The results indicate that the predominant plastic litter in Punta Arenas is PVC. The results are discussed in relation to the sources and composition of the residues, the morpho dynamics of the coast, and the CCI is compared with other locations around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Ximena Salinas
- Instituto Antártico Chileno, Plaza Benjamín Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile; Universidad de Magallanes, Facultad de Ciencias, Presidente. Manuel Bulnes 01855, Punta Arenas, Chile.
| | - Elaine Palacios
- Universidad de Magallanes, Facultad de Ciencias, Presidente. Manuel Bulnes 01855, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Karla Pozo
- Universidad San Sebastián, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Lientur 1457, Concepción, Chile; Masaryk University, Faculty of Science (RECETOX), Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mariett Torres
- Universidad San Sebastián, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Lientur 1457, Concepción, Chile
| | - Lorena Rebolledo
- Instituto Antártico Chileno, Plaza Benjamín Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Victoria Gómez
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science (RECETOX), Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rodolfo Rondón
- Instituto Antártico Chileno, Plaza Benjamín Muñoz Gamero 1055, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Ignacia de la Maza
- Universidad San Sebastián, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Lientur 1457, Concepción, Chile
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Jayapala HPS, Jayasiri HB, Ranatunga RRMK, Perera IJJUN, Bellanthudawa BKA. Ecological ramifications of marine debris in mangrove ecosystems: Estimation of substrate coverage and physical effects of marine debris on mangrove ecosystem in Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116184. [PMID: 38412797 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The adverse environmental impacts on mangrove ecosystems due to anthropogenic marine debris contamination have attracted public attention not only in Sri Lanka but worldwide. Therefore, quantification of marine debris in sensitive ecosystems like mangroves is critical to assess the impacts on ecosystem vitality and services. We conducted this study to assess the abundance and density of marine debris in Negombo lagoon, Western Province, Sri Lanka. We selected two sites (n = 2) using the purposive sampling technique. Marine debris cover and concentration were calculated to explore the extent of pollution from marine debris. The findings revealed that 9.83 ± 1.05 % of the substrate of the mangrove ecosystem is covered by debris. Nine types of marine debris were recorded, and a higher abundance belonged to single-use plastic items. A significantly higher debris cover was found in Kadolkele (18.80 ± 1.74 %, n = 120) than in Molekadolwetiya (0.85 ± 0.03 %, n = 120) (One-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). The study indicated that the mangroves in lagoon are highly polluted with marine debris and act as "litter catchers." Correlation coefficient analysis was used to find the impact of debris cover on physical damage to roots, seedlings, and undergrowth vegetation. Correlation analysis revealed that physical damage to seedlings and branches/barks have a positive correlation with debris cover. To conserve these valuable coastal habitats in Negombo lagoon, it is recommended to take remedial measures to reduce arriving debris loads and to remove the debris present in mangroves.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - H B Jayasiri
- Ocean University of Sri Lanka, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka
| | - R R M K Ranatunga
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - I J J U N Perera
- Department of Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81100, Sri Lanka
| | - B K A Bellanthudawa
- Department of Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Matara 81100, Sri Lanka.
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Battisti C, Cesarini G, Gallitelli L, Moretti F, Scalici M. Anthropogenic litter in a Mediterranean coastal wetland: A heterogeneous spatial pattern of historical deposition. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116163. [PMID: 38401392 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Coastal wetlands represent areas that can testify historical accumulation of litter. We analyzed the anthropogenic litter deposited on the channel bottom of a coastal wetland area that experienced water stress due to extreme summer dryness after about 20 years. We hypothesize that the litter accumulated in the different areas over the years reflects the different social user categories (i.e., fishermen, beach users, hunters) and exposure to meteo-marine events. Our findings highlight that historically accumulated litter is composed of plastics (78.8 %), clothes (8.9 %), and glass (4.9 %). Moreover, litter concentration averages 53.6 items/ha in the 8 sectors. The most found categories were common household items (25.4 %), diverse (professional and consumer) items (24.2 %), and food and beverages packaging (21.4 %). Finally, litter diversity indices and the Detrended Correspondence Analysis showed sector and litter type similarities. We reported for the first time the presence of litter accumulated for 20 years testifying non-more occurring recreational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Battisti
- 'Torre Flavia' LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Italy
| | - Giulia Cesarini
- National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania, Italy
| | - Luca Gallitelli
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Filippo Moretti
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Agrifood Sustainability, Quality and Safety Laboratory BIOAG-PROBIO, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Santa Maria di Galeria (RM), Italy
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- University of Roma Tre, Department of Sciences, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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Galli M, Baini M, Panti C, Giani D, Caliani I, Campani T, Rosso M, Tepsich P, Levati V, Laface F, Romeo T, Scotti G, Galgani F, Fossi MC. Oceanographic and anthropogenic variables driving marine litter distribution in Mediterranean protected areas: Extensive field data supported by forecasting modelling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166266. [PMID: 37579802 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter concentration in the Mediterranean Sea is strongly influenced both by anthropogenic pressures and hydrodynamic factors that locally characterise the basin. Within the Plastic Busters MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) Interreg Mediterranean Project, a comprehensive assessment of floating macro- and microlitter in the Pelagos Sanctuary and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park was performed. An innovative multilevel experimental design has been planned ad-hoc according to a litter provisional distribution model, harmonising and implementing the current sampling methodologies. The simultaneous presence of floating macro- and microlitter items and the potential influences of environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting litter distribution have been evaluated to identify hotspot accumulation areas representing a major hazard for marine species. A total of 273 monitoring transects of floating macrolitter and 141 manta trawl samples were collected in the study areas to evaluate the abundance and composition of marine litter. High mean concentrations of floating macrolitter (399 items/km2) and microplastics (259,490 items/km2) have been found in the facing waters of the Gulf of La Spezia and Tuscan Archipelago National Park as well in the Genova canyon and Janua seamount area. Accordingly, strong litter inputs were identified to originate from the mainland and accumulate in coastal waters within 10-15 nautical miles. Harbours and riverine outfalls contribute significantly to plastic pollution representing the main sources of contamination as well as areas with warmer waters and weak oceanographic features that could facilitate its accumulation. The results achieved may indicate a potentially threatening trend of litter accumulation that may pose a serious risk to the Pelagos Sanctuary biodiversity and provide further indications for dealing with plastic pollution in protected areas, facilitating future management recommendations and mitigation actions in these fragile marines and coastal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Galli
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Dario Giani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Rosso
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy; CIMA Research Foundation, 17100 Savona, Italy
| | - Paola Tepsich
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy; CIMA Research Foundation, 17100 Savona, Italy
| | - Vanessa Levati
- CIMA Research Foundation, 17100 Savona, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Napoli Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica Laface
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 98167 Messina, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 98057 Milazzo, Italy; ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 98057 Milazzo, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Scotti
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 98057 Milazzo, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
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Cocciaro B, Merlino S, Bianucci M, Casani C, Palleschi V. Feasibility Study for the Development of a Low-Cost, Compact, and Fast Sensor for the Detection and Classification of Microplastics in the Marine Environment. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:4097. [PMID: 37112438 PMCID: PMC10143223 DOI: 10.3390/s23084097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The detection and classification of microplastics in the marine environment is a complex task that implies the use of delicate and expensive instrumentation. In this paper, we present a preliminary feasibility study for the development of a low-cost, compact microplastics sensor that could be mounted, in principle, on a float of drifters, for the monitoring of large marine surfaces. The preliminary results of the study indicate that a simple sensor equipped with three infrared-sensitive photodiodes can reach classification accuracies around 90% for the most-diffused floating microplastics in the marine environment (polyethylene and polypropylene).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Cocciaro
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organo-Metallici (CNR-ICCOM), U.O.S. di Pisa, Area della Ricerca del CNR, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Merlino
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), U.O.S. di Pozzuolo di Lerici, c/o Forte Santa Teresa—Loc. Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici, Italy
| | - Marco Bianucci
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), U.O.S. di Pozzuolo di Lerici, c/o Forte Santa Teresa—Loc. Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici, Italy
| | - Claudio Casani
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), U.O.S. di Pozzuolo di Lerici, c/o Forte Santa Teresa—Loc. Pozzuolo di Lerici, 19032 Lerici, Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via L. Ghini, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Palleschi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organo-Metallici (CNR-ICCOM), U.O.S. di Pisa, Area della Ricerca del CNR, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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8
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Rios-Fuster B, Compa M, Alomar C, Morató M, Ryfer D, Villalonga M, Deudero S. Are seafloor habitats influencing the distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments of a Marine Protected Area? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:49875-49888. [PMID: 36787062 PMCID: PMC9925937 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25536-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The marine environment is affected by the increasing presence of microplastics (MPs; < 5 mm), and the seafloor acts as a sink for these particles. Locations with different predominant seafloor habitat and protection level applied were selected from Cabrera Marine-Terrestrial National Park (henceforth, Cabrera MPA) (western Mediterranean Sea) with the aim to assess the distribution of MPs along the sediments of this Mediterranean MPA. A total of 37 samples were collected. A high diversity of sediment between locations was detected according to the Udden-Wentworth classification and locations were clustered into two main groups according to the predominance of different particle size fractions. The identification of MPs was carried out according to the sediment particle size classification. A total of 1431 MPs and a mean value (± SD) of 314.53 ± 409.94 items kg-1 D.W. were identified, and 70% of the particles were fibers. Statistically higher abundances of MPs were found in sediments collected from sandy habitats, with a mean value of 630.80 ± 636.87 items kg-1 D.W., compared to the abundances of MPs found in locations with different predominant seafloor habitats, that ranged from 136.79 ± 156.33 items kg-1 D.W. in habitats with similar predominance of seagrass and sand to 223.02 ± 113.35 items kg-1 D.W. in habitats with similar predominance of rocks and sand. The abundance of MPs regarding each sediment particle size fraction differed between years and locations, and the abundance of MPs according to each identified shape differed between sampling years, particle size fraction, and predominant seafloor habitat. The present study highlights the ubiquitous presence of MPs in seafloor sediments from a MPA. Furthermore, the results suggest that the predominant seafloor habitat can modulate the presence of MPs in marine environments in both general abundances and shape of items.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Rios-Fuster
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Montserrat Compa
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Carme Alomar
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Mercè Morató
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Diane Ryfer
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Margarita Villalonga
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Merlino S, Locritani M, Guarnieri A, Delrosso D, Bianucci M, Paterni M. Marine Litter Tracking System: A Case Study with Open-Source Technology and a Citizen Science-Based Approach. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:935. [PMID: 36679731 PMCID: PMC9863889 DOI: 10.3390/s23020935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that most of the plastic pollution found in the oceans is transported via rivers. Unfortunately, the main processes contributing to plastic and debris displacement through riparian systems is still poorly understood. The Marine Litter Drifter project from the Arno River aims at using modern consumer software and hardware technologies to track the movements of real anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) from rivers. The innovative "Marine Litter Trackers" (MLT) were utilized as they are reliable, robust, self-powered and they present almost no maintenance costs. Furthermore, they can be built not only by those trained in the field but also by those with no specific expertise, including high school students, simply by following the instructions. Five dispersion experiments were successfully conducted from April 2021 to December 2021, using different types of trackers in different seasons and weather conditions. The maximum distance tracked was 2845 km for a period of 94 days. The activity at sea was integrated by use of Lagrangian numerical models that also assisted in planning the deployments and the recovery of drifters. The observed tracking data in turn were used for calibration and validation, recursively improving their quality. The dynamics of marine litter (ML) dispersion in the Tyrrhenian Sea is also discussed, along with the potential for open-source approaches including the "citizen science" perspective for both improving big data collection and educating/awareness-raising on AMD issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Merlino
- CNR-ISMAR (Istituto di Scienze Marine-Sede di La Spezia), 19032 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Marina Locritani
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma 2, 00143 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Guarnieri
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Damiano Delrosso
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Bianucci
- CNR-ISMAR (Istituto di Scienze Marine-Sede di La Spezia), 19032 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Marco Paterni
- CNR-IFC (Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica-Pisa), 56124 Pisa, Italy
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10
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Perumal K, Muthuramalingam S, Chellaiyan S. Marine litter on the beaches of the Kanyakumari, Southern India: An assessment of their abundance and pollution indices. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114443. [PMID: 36495610 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The problem of marine litter is increasing along the Indian coast. For conducting a baseline study to identify and assess the abundance, clean-coast index (CCI), and plastics abundance index (PAI) of marine litter were calculated on the beaches of Kanyakumari, Southern India. A total of 11,439 marine litter items were collected and classified into 33 groups along the 7 beaches of Kanyakumari. From the results, plastics were the most abundant items (65.08 %) followed by foam (21.93 %), along with cloths (4.59 %), rubber (3.09 %), papers (2.26 %), glass (2.16 %), metal (0.38 %), wood (0.26 %), and others (0.26 %). The average CCI value (27.24) indicates that all beaches are 'extremely dirty'; however, the PAI average value (4.37) indicates 'high abundance'. About 96.87 % of the marine litter originates from the land-based sources. This study provides an interpretive framework for further plastic pollution assessment, which could lead to a better marine litter management on Indian beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthikeyan Perumal
- School of Marine Sciences, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Area Studies, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Subagunasekar Muthuramalingam
- Centre for Geoinformatics, School of Health Sciences & Rural Development, The Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul 624 302, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Stella Chellaiyan
- School of Marine Sciences, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Area Studies, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
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11
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Cesarano C, Aulicino G, Cerrano C, Ponti M, Puce S. Marine beach litter monitoring strategies along Mediterranean coasts. A methodological review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114401. [PMID: 36462417 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Marine beach litter (MBL) represents a serious issue for marine life, coastal ecosystems, human health and several economical activities. The Mediterranean Sea is a semi enclosed basin particularly vulnerable to this problem. Its coasts are threatened by critical anthropogenic pressures that sum up with intensive fishing and shipping, and the slow turnover of its waters. In the last decades, several scientific and participative initiatives have been conducted to study, monitor and clean-up shorelines. These studies were generally characterized by differences in timing and frequency of the surveys, as well as in litter sampling, classification and analysis. This paper presents a systematic review of current literature concerning MBL monitoring strategies along the Mediterranean coasts. Scopus indexed studies are analysed to identify discrepancies and similarities among the applied protocols, understand where current gaps lie, and point out what would be needed to develop a basin-scale efficient monitoring for the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cesarano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aulicino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli studi di Napoli Parthenope, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Reef Check Italia onlus, Ancona, Italy; Fano Marine Center, Fano, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Ponti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Ravenna, Italy; Reef Check Italia onlus, Ancona, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Roma, Italy
| | - Stefania Puce
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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12
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Scarrica VM, Aucelli PP, Cagnazzo C, Casolaro A, Fiore P, La Salandra M, Rizzo A, Scardino G, Scicchitano G, Staiano A. A novel beach litter analysis system based on UAV images and Convolutional Neural Networks. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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13
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Rios-Fuster B, Alomar C, Paniagua González G, Garcinuño Martínez RM, Soliz Rojas DL, Fernández Hernando P, Deudero S. Assessing microplastic ingestion and occurrence of bisphenols and phthalates in bivalves, fish and holothurians from a Mediterranean marine protected area. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114034. [PMID: 35948144 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) ingestion, along with accumulated plasticizers such as bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS), and phthalates represented by diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were quantified in bivalves, fish, and holothurians collected from a coastal pristine area at the western Mediterranean Sea. MP ingestion in sediment-feeders holothurians (mean value 12.67 ± 7.31 MPs/individual) was statistically higher than ingestion in bivalves and fish (mean 4.83 ± 5.35 and 3 ± 4.44 MPs/individual, respectively). The main ingested polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The levels of BPS, BPF, and DEHP were highest in bivalves' soft tissue; BPA and DBP had the highest levels in the holothurians' muscle. In addition, the levels of all plasticizers assessed were lowest in fish muscle; only BPA levels in fish were higher than in bivalves, with intermediate values between those of bivalves and holothurians. This study provides data on exposure to MPs and plasticizers of different species inhabiting Cabrera Marine Protected Area (MPA) and highlights the differences in MP ingestion and levels of plasticizers between species with different ecological characteristics and feeding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Rios-Fuster
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Carme Alomar
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Gema Paniagua González
- Departamento de Ciencias Analíticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Maria Garcinuño Martínez
- Departamento de Ciencias Analíticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dulce Lucy Soliz Rojas
- Departamento de Ciencias Analíticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Fernández Hernando
- Departamento de Ciencias Analíticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (IEO, CSIC), Muelle de Poniente S/n, 07015, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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14
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Menicagli V, De Battisti D, Balestri E, Federigi I, Maltagliati F, Verani M, Castelli A, Carducci A, Lardicci C. Impact of storms and proximity to entry points on marine litter and wrack accumulation along Mediterranean beaches: Management implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 824:153914. [PMID: 35183639 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Beach litter can affect public health and economic activities worldwide forcing local authorities to expensive beach cleaning. Understanding the key mechanisms affecting the accumulation of this waste on beaches, such as sea state and proximity to entry points, is critical to plan effective management strategies. In this one-year study, we estimated the impact of storm events and waterways runoff on litter abundance and local economy using as a model a managed, peri-urban beach facing a north-western sector of the Mediterranean Sea. We also investigated the relationship between litter composition/density and beach proximity to major/closest harbors/rivers at regional scale by combining our data with those on litter density available in literature. Autumn/winter storms caused larger litter depositions than spring/summer ones in the peri-urban beach. No preferential accumulation occurred near to waterway mouths. Litter mainly consisted of plastic, and its composition in terms of micro-categories varied over seasons. In total, 367,070 items were deposited along 4.7 km of beach over one year, and the cost for the removal of this waste amounted to approximately 27,600 euros per km/year. At regional scale, beach litter density was positively correlated to the proximity of major harbors while its composition was related to the proximity to both major harbors and rivers. Results indicate that autumn/winter storms are important drivers of marine litter deposition. They also suggest that beaches in front of the convergence zone of littoral currents and close to major harbors can be particularly subjected to this kind of pollutant. To increase their effectiveness, litter mitigation/cleaning activities should be planned based on predictions of major storm events and performed at spatial scales encompassing at least coastal regional sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Menicagli
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Università di Pisa, via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide De Battisti
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Balestri
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Ileana Federigi
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ferruccio Maltagliati
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Verani
- Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Università di Pisa, via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Castelli
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Annalaura Carducci
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact (CIRSEC), University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Lardicci
- Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Università di Pisa, via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Climate Change Impact (CIRSEC), University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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15
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Portz L, Manzolli RP, Villate-Daza DA, Fontán-Bouzas Á. Where does marine litter hide? The Providencia and Santa Catalina Island problem, SEAFLOWER Reserve (Colombia). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 813:151878. [PMID: 34826464 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The SEAFLOWER Biosphere Reserve (SBR) is the largest Marine Protected Area in the Caribbean Sea and the second largest in Latin America. Marine protected areas are under pressure from various stressors, one of the most important issues being pollution by marine litter, especially plastic. In this study our aim is to establish the distribution pattern and potential sources of solid waste in the different marine/coastal ecosystems of the islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina (SBR), as well as assess any interconnections between these ecosystems. At the same time, the distribution characteristics of marine litter in the different compartments facilitated a more dynamic understanding of the load of marine litter supplied by the islands, both locally and externally. We observed that certain ecosystems, principally back-beach vegetation and mangroves, act as crucial marine litter accumulation zones. Mangroves are important hotspots for plastic accumulation, with densities above eight items/m2 (minimum 8.38 and maximum 10.38 items/m2), while back-beach vegetation (minimum 1.43 and maximum 7.03 items/m2) also removes and stores a portion of the marine litter that arrives on the beaches. Tourist beaches for recreational activities have a low density of marine litter (minimum 0.01 and maximum 0.72 items/m2) due to regular clean-ups, whereas around non-tourist beaches, there is a greater variety of sources and accumulation (minimum 0.31 and maximum 5.41 items/m2). The low density of marine litter found on corals around the island (0-0.02 items/m2) indicates that there is still no significant marine litter stream to the coral reefs. Identifying contamination levels in terms of marine litter and possible flows between ecosystems is critical for adopting management and reduction strategies for such residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Portz
- Civil and Environmental Department, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58 # 55 - 66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| | | | | | - Ángela Fontán-Bouzas
- Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM), Universidade de Vigo, GEOMA, Vigo 36310, Spain; Physics Department & CESAM - Centre of Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
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16
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An In Situ Experiment to Evaluate the Aging and Degradation Phenomena Induced by Marine Environment Conditions on Commercial Plastic Granules. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14061111. [PMID: 35335441 PMCID: PMC8949163 DOI: 10.3390/polym14061111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we present two novel experimental setups specifically designed to perform in situ long-term monitoring of the aging behaviour of commercial plastic granules (HDPE, PP, PLA and PBAT). The results of the first six months of a three year monitoring campaign are presented. The two experimental setups consist of: (i) special cages positioned close to the sea floor at a depth of about 10 m, and (ii) a box containing sand exposed to atmospheric agents to simulate the surface of a beach. Starting from March 2020, plastic granules were put into the cages and plunged in seawater and in a sandboxe. Chemical spectroscopic and thermal analyses (GPC, SEM, FTIR-ATR, DSC, TGA) were performed on the granules before and after exposure to natural elements for six months, in order to identify the physical-chemical modifications occurring in marine environmental conditions (both in seawater and in sandy coastal conditions). Changes in colour, surface morphology, chemical composition, thermal properties, molecular weight and polydispersity, showed the different influences of the environmental conditions. Photooxidative reaction pathways were prevalent in the sandbox. Abrasive phenomena acted specially in the sea environment. PLA and PBAT did not show significant degradation after six months, making the possible reduction of marine pollution due to this process negligible.
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17
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Gonçalves G, Andriolo U. Operational use of multispectral images for macro-litter mapping and categorization by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113431. [PMID: 35158175 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, aka drones) has shown to be feasible to perform marine litter surveys. We operationally tested the use of multispectral images (5 bands) to classify litter type and material on a beach-dune system. For litter categorization by their multispectral characteristics, the Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) technique was adopted. The SAM-based categorization of litter agreed with the visual classification, thus multispectral images can be used to fasten and/or making more robust the manual RGB image screening. Fully automated detection returned an F-score of 0.64, and a reasonable categorization of litter. Overall, the image-based litter density maps were in line with the manual detection. Assessments were promising given the complexity of the study area, where different dunes plants and partially-buried items challenged the UAS-based litter detection. The method can be easily implemented for both floating and beached litter, to advance litter survey in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Gonçalves
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290 Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Department of Mathematics, Apartado 3008 EC Santa Cruz, 3001 - 501 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Umberto Andriolo
- INESC Coimbra, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Polo 2, 3030 - 290 Coimbra, Portugal.
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18
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Qualitative and Quantitative Beach Cleanliness Assessment to Support Marine Litter Management in Tropical Destinations. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13233455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In addition to its ecological and recreational relevance, beach cleanliness is also one of the five most important aspects (i.e., the “Big Five”) for beach visitors around the world. Nonetheless, few efforts have been carried out to guide the sound management of this rising issue. This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative method to assess the level of beach cleanliness, in order to allow managers to focus their attention on the environmental management of the most frequent and relevant types of litter in tropical areas. In a first step, a survey on users’ perception was applied to 361 beachgoers in eight beaches in Colombia to identify the most relevant types of beach litter and the weighting factors to obtain quantitative calculations. In a second step, the thirteen categories of litter identified were analyzed in relation to beach cleanliness, origin of litter, and environmental impact, to define its individual weighting importance. Some categories were also selected according to particularities of tropical countries, such as the presence of abundant natural vegetation debris and gross polystyrene items, largely transported by rivers in great quantities. In a third step, the method was then tested at eight beaches in the Caribbean coast of Colombia through a period of four months, during which 192 transect samplings were carried out. The qualitative module of the proposed technique, named Beach Litter Assessment Technique—Qualitative and Quantitative (BLAT-QQ), identified the main types of beach litter and the quantitative module gave an overview on the state of beach cleanliness. The method is demonstrated to be quick and effective in diagnosing beach cleanliness, providing a simple instrument to carry out sound environmental management actions in coastal destinations.
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19
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Suteja Y, Atmadipoera AS, Riani E, Nurjaya IW, Nugroho D, Purwiyanto AIS. Stranded marine debris on the touristic beaches in the south of Bali Island, Indonesia: The spatiotemporal abundance and characteristic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113026. [PMID: 34628344 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Stranded marine debris (MD) has become a hot topic on Bali Island because it threatens coastal tourism sustainability. This study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal abundance and characteristics of MD on 14 touristic beaches in Bali Island. Sampling is carried out twice every season by adapting methods from NOAA's MD program. We found that the average MD abundance and weight were 0.356 ± 0.366 items/m2 and 4.057 ± 3.892 g/m2, respectively. Plastic dominated the MD based on abundance (86.9%) and weight (40.1%). Plastic bags, straws, and plastic cups are the most common items among plastics. The MD is originated from Indonesia and is dominated by land-based sources. The beaches are categorized as dirty in the rainy seasons and clean in the dry seasons. Statistically, the MD based on abundance, weight, category, source, and level of cleanliness varied significantly between seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulianto Suteja
- Marine Science Department, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries, Udayana University Indonesia, Jl. Raya Kampus Universitas Udayana, Bukit Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia; Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University, IPB Darmaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.
| | - Agus Saleh Atmadipoera
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University, IPB Darmaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.
| | - Etty Riani
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University, IPB Darmaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.
| | - I Wayan Nurjaya
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University, IPB Darmaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia.
| | - Dwiyoga Nugroho
- Agency of Research and Development for Marine and Fisheries, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta, Indonesia.
| | - Anna Ida Sunaryo Purwiyanto
- Marine Science Department, Mathematics and Natural Science Faculty, Sriwijaya University, Palembang, Indonesia.
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20
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Rizzo A, Rangel-Buitrago N, Impedovo A, Mastronuzzi G, Scardino G, Scicchitano G. A rapid assessment of litter magnitudes and impacts along the Torre Guaceto marine protected area (Brindisi, Italy). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112987. [PMID: 34601251 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on assessing litter magnitudes along the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Brindisi, Italy). Collected litter was grouped into twenty different types and classified into four litter typologies according to the Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas. All data were analyzed using an index-based approach that allowed the classification of a coastal stretch in terms of cleanliness, and presence of plastics as well hazardous items. The average litter abundance in the study area was 0.5 items/m2, being plastics the most common litter item. Hazardous litter items were found along the study area, reaching 21.3% of the total collected items. The application of environmental indices allowed to define the study area with a "moderate cleanliness" and a "moderate" presence of hazardous litter items. Sampled litter typologies and related magnitudes suggest a combination of sources that mainly include direct activities on the nearby coastal zones and river basins (dumping).
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Rizzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programas de Física - Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Angelita Impedovo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mastronuzzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scardino
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scicchitano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
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21
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Citizen Science for Marine Litter Detection and Classification on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13233349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV, aka drones) are being used for mapping macro-litter in the environment. As drone images require a manual processing task for detecting marine litter, it is of interest to evaluate the accuracy of non-expert citizen science operators (CSO) in performing this task. Students from Italian secondary schools (in this work, the CSO) were invited to identify, mark, and classify stranded litter items on a UAV orthophoto collected on an Italian beach. A specific training program and working tools were developed for the aim. The comparison with the standard in situ visual census survey returned a general underestimation (50%) of items. However, marine litter bulk categorisation was fairly in agreement with the in situ survey, especially for sources classification. The concordance level among CSO ranged between 60% and 91%, depending on the item properties considered (type, material, and colour). As the assessment accuracy was in line with previous works developed by experts, remote detection of marine litter on UAV images can be improved through citizen science programs, upon an appropriate training plan and provision of specific tools.
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22
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Massetti L, Rangel-Buitrago N, Pietrelli L, Merlino S. Litter impacts on marine birds: The Mediterranean Northern gannet as case study. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112779. [PMID: 34340148 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Litter are ubiquitous and increasing in the coastal and marine environments. Entanglement with litter is one of the principal causes of mortality in seabirds, but the population-level consequences are unknown. Currently, all seabirds collect litter for nesting material. Northern Gannets are not the exception and there are several cases where elevated percentages of polymers are part of the life cycle of gannets, especially during breeding. This baseline paper presents an analysis of litter content and its related impacts on the two gannet nests located in South France (Carry-Le-Rouet) and Northwest Italy (Portovenere) from 2017 to 2019. 654 items from both gannet nests were collected with 277 items (42%) being of natural origin, while 377 items (58%) were litter. Most of the nesting material was nautical cordage, which appears to be used preferentially. A more restrictive litter management regulation must be adopted to reduce litter generation from fishing/aquaculture-related activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Massetti
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la BioEconomia, CNR-IBE, Via Madonna del Piano, 10, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programas de Física y Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia.
| | - Loris Pietrelli
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia Merlino
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR) U. O. S., di Pozzuolo di Lerici, La Spezia, Italy.
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Chinfak N, Sompongchaiyakul P, Charoenpong C, Shi H, Yeemin T, Zhang J. Abundance, composition, and fate of microplastics in water, sediment, and shellfish in the Tapi-Phumduang River system and Bandon Bay, Thailand. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 781:146700. [PMID: 33812121 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic contamination in the environment is a global problem, as evidenced by the increasing amount of research worldwide. To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the microplastic distribution in Bandon Bay, one of the most important maricultural areas of Thailand. Water and sediment samples from the Tapi-Phumduang River system (n = 10) and Bandon Bay (n = 5) were collected. Water sampling at the river mouth was carried out during a complete tidal cycle to estimate the microplastic flux to the bay during the wet season. Moreover, two commercial bivalve species grown in the bay, the green mussel (Perna viridis) and lyrate Asiatic hard clam (Meretrix lyrata), were analyzed. More items of microplastics were found in the river system than in the bay. During the tide cycle, one-third of the microplastics entering the bay were washed back upstream during high tide. This backflow consisted mainly of larger microplastics. The average daily load of microplastics to the bay was 22.4 × 109 items day-1. The load during low tide was approximately 4-5 times higher than that during high tide. The overall accumulation of microplastics in the bottom sediments of the river and in the bay was similar (p < 0.05). Green mussels showed significantly higher contamination with microplastics than clams. Notably, the small-sized shellfish contained more particles (items/g) than the large ones (p < 0.05). Fibers were detected in virtually all samples: water (98%), sediment (94%), mussels (100%), and clams (95%). Among these, microfibers (<1 mm) were detected in water (71%), sediment (63%), green mussels (63%), and clams (52%). Blue and white particles were the two most frequently observed colors, while the most dominant polymers were rayon, followed by polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and nylon. To this end, we posit that river discharge was a significant source of microplastics in Bandon Bay, with minor additional contributions from fishing and mariculture activities within the bay. Ultimately, these microplastics may end up in the sediments and living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narainrit Chinfak
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Penjai Sompongchaiyakul
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Chawalit Charoenpong
- Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Huahong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Thamasak Yeemin
- Marine Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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Mo A, D'Antraccoli M, Bedini G, Ciccarelli D. The role of plants in the face of marine litter invasion: A case study in an Italian protected area. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 169:112544. [PMID: 34111605 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Mo
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco D'Antraccoli
- Pisa Botanic Garden and Museum, University of Pisa, via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Gianni Bedini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; CIRSEC, Centre for Climatic Change Impact, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Ciccarelli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; CIRSEC, Centre for Climatic Change Impact, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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25
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Özden Ö, Yıldırım S, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ. Anthropogenic marine litter on the north coast of Cyprus: Insights into marine pollution in the eastern Mediterranean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 165:112167. [PMID: 33610112 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The eastern Mediterranean is a region that has been relatively understudied with regards to anthropogenic marine litter despite potential for environmental and social costs. Here, coastal marine litter accumulation was assessed at eight beach locations along the coast of Northern Cyprus. Monthly surveys were performed between January 2017 and January 2019. All items ≥ 2.5 cm in diameter within the same 250 m2 plot were collected and processed. A total of 59,556 separate items were collected with a total mass of 697 kg. At the worst affected site (Ronnas Bay) litter accumulation averaged 1114 items and 11.9 kg per month. Plastic and polystyrene litter accounted for 82% (622.71 kg) of all litter types by mass and 96% (57,231) by frequency. Plastic bags, plastic pieces, drinks containers, caps/lids were the four most abundant forms of plastic by mass and by frequency. This suggests dumping/poor domestic waste governance as the main driver of marine litter in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özge Özden
- Near East University, Department of Landscape Architecture, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Sinem Yıldırım
- Near East University, Department of Landscape Architecture, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Wayne J Fuller
- Near East University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
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26
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Scotti G, Esposito V, D'Alessandro M, Panti C, Vivona P, Consoli P, Figurella F, Romeo T. Seafloor litter along the Italian coastal zone: An integrated approach to identify sources of marine litter. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 124:203-212. [PMID: 33631445 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A heterogeneous amount of waste of different origins is continuously generated along Italian coasts in the Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, using information regarding the quantities and the different types of marine litter based on Project AWARE's "Dive Against Debris" data, we try to identify the main sources of this waste. In particular, the methodological approach used associates the origin of marine litter sources with the dataset of geo-localised state-owned maritime concessions, which are loaded by the granting bodies (regions, municipalities, port authorities) on the State Property Information System (Sid). The sources of marine litter were evaluated using the matrix scoring technique (MST). Then, to assess the weight of each source in each station, the community-level weighted mean (CWM) was calculated. Single-use plastic accounted for the highest percentage (19.13%), followed by glass beverage bottles (10.90%), shopping bags (9.03%), aluminium beverage cans (4.91%), and cigarette butts (4.61%). Tourism and beach users contributed to 42.3% of the litter found, followed by fishing (15.7%) and yachting (11.3%). The overlapping of the data collected by scuba divers with the state concessions of activities from offshore and mainland areas was used to distinguish the anthropic pressures that impact the coast. Policy makers and the local administrator may use these results to define new methods of collection and reuse of anthropic waste through a more harmonised approach in the management of marine waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Scotti
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA Via dei Mille 46, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Valentina Esposito
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Michela D'Alessandro
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA Via dei Mille 46, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy.
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via P. A. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Pietro Vivona
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA Via dei Mille 46, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Consoli
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento Ecologia Marina Integrata, Sede Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Via dei Mille 46, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | | | - Teresa Romeo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento Ecologia Marina Integrata, Sede Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Via dei Mille 46, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy; Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA Via dei Mille 46, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
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27
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Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Chemically Characterized Microplastics within the Protected Area of Pelagos Sanctuary (NW Mediterranean Sea): Focus on Natural and Urban Beaches. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12123389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Data on the abundance and distribution of Anthropogenic Marine Debris (AMD) on the coastal areas of the northern Tyrrhenian coast are still scarce. The objective of this study is to characterize, in terms of size, color, morphology and polymeric nature, the Large Microplastics (LMPs), i.e., plastic objects within 1 and 5 mm, sampled on three beaches located within the coastal macro-area of the Pelagos Sanctuary, an international protected zone in the north-western Mediterranean. The beaches have similar morphological characteristics but different degrees of urbanization. LMPs were sampled seasonally for one year. The polymeric nature of a representative subsample of the collected LMPs was investigated using a portable Raman instrument, to assess the feasibility of in situ characterization. In this study, 26,486 items were sorted by typology (Expanded Polystyrene-EPS, fragments, and resin pellets), size, and for fragments and resin pellets, also by color and chemical nature. Statistical data on the quantity, density, type, spatial distribution, and seasonality of the sampled LMPs are presented. Differences in LMP abundance and composition were detected among sites. A seasonality trend emerges from our statistical analysis, depending on both LMP typology and urbanization degrees of the beaches. Our data do not show the existence of a relationship between the size of the investigated MPs and their color, while they suggest that the type of polymer influences the degree of fragmentation. This underlines the need to further investigate the mechanisms leading to the production and dispersion of MPs in coastal areas, taking into account both the urbanization of the beach, and therefore the possible sources of input, and the different types of MPs. Finally, a Raman portable instrument proved to be a valuable aid in performing in situ polymeric characterization of LMPs.
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Veerasingam S, Al-Khayat JA, Aboobacker VM, Hamza S, Vethamony P. Sources, spatial distribution and characteristics of marine litter along the west coast of Qatar. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 159:111478. [PMID: 32892916 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The spatial distribution, sources and characteristics of marine litter (ML) from 36 locations spread over 12 beaches along the west coast of Qatar have been assessed. A total of 2376 ML items with varying sizes were found with an average abundance of 1.98 items/m2. The order of abundance of ML along the coast was as follows: plastics (71.4%) > metal (9.3%) > glass (5.1%) > paper (4.4%) > fabric (4.0%) > rubber (3.9%) > processed wood (2.0%). Locations in the south and northwest coasts of Qatar had significantly higher concentrations of ML. Surprisingly, nearly 47% of the beached polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were derived from the countries bordering the Arabian/Persian Gulf (Gulf), and most of them were produced in the last 2 years. The plastic materials were drifted by winds and currents to the Qatar coast. Gulf circulation provides evidence to the pathways of ML beached on the Qatar coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Veerasingam
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jassim A Al-Khayat
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - V M Aboobacker
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shafeeq Hamza
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - P Vethamony
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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29
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Debris Survey in Coastal Areas: Long-Term Monitoring Programme to Study Spatial and Temporal Accumulation of the Dynamics of Beached Marine Litter. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12081260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming increasingly accessible tools with widespread use as environmental monitoring systems. They can be used for anthropogenic marine debris survey, a recently growing research field. In fact, while the increasing efforts for offshore investigations lead to a considerable collection of data on this type of pollution in the open sea, there is still little knowledge of the materials deposited along the coasts and the mechanism that leads to their accumulation pattern. UAVs can be effective in bridging this gap by increasing the amount of data acquired to study coastal deposits, while also limiting the anthropogenic impact in protected areas. In this study, UAVs have been used to acquire geo-referenced RGB images in a selected zone of a protected marine area (the Migliarino, Massacciuccoli, and San Rossore park near Pisa, Italy), during a long-term (ten months) monitoring programme. A post processing system based on visual interpretation of the images allows the localization and identification of the anthropogenic marine debris within the scanned area, and the estimation of their spatial and temporal distribution in different zones of the beach. These results provide an opportunity to investigate the dynamics of accumulation over time, suggesting that our approach might be appropriate for monitoring and collecting such data in isolated, and especially in protected, areas with significant benefits for different types of stakeholders.
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30
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Vlachogianni T, Skocir M, Constantin P, Labbe C, Orthodoxou D, Pesmatzoglou I, Scannella D, Spika M, Zissimopoulos V, Scoullos M. Plastic pollution on the Mediterranean coastline: Generating fit-for-purpose data to support decision-making via a participatory-science initiative. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:135058. [PMID: 32000335 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global problem and reliable, coherent and comparable data are essential for targeted mitigation strategies. Throughout the years Mediterranean NGOs have significantly contributed to providing data and information on the temporal and spatial distribution of marine litter found stranded on beaches; thus participatory-science campaigns are an essential tool to fill in the marine litter knowledge gaps. The present study reports the findings of beach litter surveys carried out by 7 NGOs in 23 sites along the coastline of the Mediterranean. The average litter density per site varied from 53 items/100 m to 6,660 items/100 m, with a median of 451 items/100 m. The majority of litter items were made of artificial/anthropogenic polymer materials accounting for 90% of all litter collected. Litter from shoreline sources accounted for 38%. Single-use plastics (SUPs) accounted for 38% of all items recorded ranging from 18.6% to 66.9% for the different beaches. 30% of the investigated beaches had more than 50% of SUPs of the total items recorded, thus providing baseline information and supporting evidence for the Single-Use Plastics Directive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomais Vlachogianni
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece.
| | - Miha Skocir
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vassilis Zissimopoulos
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Scoullos
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece
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31
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Enrichetti F, Dominguez-Carrió C, Toma M, Bavestrello G, Canese S, Bo M. Assessment and distribution of seafloor litter on the deep Ligurian continental shelf and shelf break (NW Mediterranean Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 151:110872. [PMID: 32056651 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Litter has become a common component of marine ecosystems, and its assessment and monitoring are now of primary interest. Here, we characterized seafloor litter in the mesophotic depth range of the Ligurian Sea, one of the most urbanized basins of the Mediterranean Sea. Eighty sites (30-220 m depth) were investigated by by means of ROV video transects. Data regarding environmental parameters and anthropic pressures were used to explain the distribution of human-derived objects. Litter resulted widely distributed in all the investigated areas, with maximum densities of 7900 items ha-1. It was mainly represented by abandoned fishing gears, with highest abundances found on the deep coastal rocky shoals exploited by artisanal and recreational fishermen. Urban litter, primarily represented by plastics, was generally higher close to shore, especially near river mouths and large harbors. Litter densities reported here are among the highest ever recorded in Europe, denoting the urgency for specific actions to prevent further spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Enrichetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Carlos Dominguez-Carrió
- Okeanos Research Centre, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pesca, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pesca, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
| | - Margherita Toma
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bavestrello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Marzia Bo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy
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32
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Gündoğdu S, Çevik C. Mediterranean dirty edge: High level of meso and macroplastics pollution on the Turkish coast. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113351. [PMID: 31627050 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
It has become apparent that the coastal zones of aquatic environments are significantly affected by plastics pollution. The accumulation of marine plastic litter on beaches is an important problem due to their significant environmental impacts. In this study, 13 coastal areas in Iskenderun Bay (NE Levantine coast of Turkey) were sampled in May 2018 to investigate meso and macroplastic (0.5-123.4 cm) pollution. A total of 1424 meso and macroplastic items in five categories (filament, film, foam, fragments, and pellets) were collected. The average meso and macroplastic concentration was 12.2 ± 3.5 pcs m-2 (12.3 ± 3.5 g m-2) and the mean size for all stations was 3.7 ± 0.16 cm. The highest meso and macroplastic concentration was found in the Dörtyol location (46.2 ± 7.6 pcs m-2) and the lowest concentration was found in the Y. Lagün location (2.3 ± 0.2 pcs m-2). Plastics were separated into 14 different groups based on their origins. The most dominant type was hard plastics (broken, fragmented, and deformed) with 59.8% and greenhouse coverage films with 11%. Our results shows that regardless their source plastics fluxes at beaches from various pathways. Results of this study provide useful information for designing monitoring strategies and setting management goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Gündoğdu
- Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330, Adana, Turkey.
| | - Cem Çevik
- Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330, Adana, Turkey
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33
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Jiang C, Yin L, Li Z, Wen X, Luo X, Hu S, Yang H, Long Y, Deng B, Huang L, Liu Y. Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 249:91-98. [PMID: 30884397 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The Tibet Plateau, the so-called Third Pole of the world, is home to the headstreams of many great rivers. The levels of microplastic pollution in those rivers, however, are unknown. In this study, surface water and sediment samples were collected from six sampling sites along five different rivers. The surface water and sediment samples were collected with a large flow sampler and a stainless steel shovel, respectively. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 483 to 967 items/m3 in the surface water and from 50 to 195 items/kg in the sediment. A large amount of small, fibrous, transparent microplastics were found in this study. Five types of microplastics with different chemical compositions were identified using micro-Raman spectroscopy: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyamide (PA). These results demonstrate that rivers in the Tibet Plateau have been contaminated by microplastics, not only in developed areas with intense human activity but also in remote areas, where microplastic pollution requires further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changbo Jiang
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China.
| | - Lingshi Yin
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Zhiwei Li
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Xin Luo
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Shuping Hu
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Hanyuan Yang
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Yuannan Long
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Bin Deng
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Lingzhi Huang
- School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Yizhuang Liu
- School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science &Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
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34
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Gündoğdu S, Yeşilyurt İN, Erbaş C. Potential interaction between plastic litter and green turtle Chelonia mydas during nesting in an extremely polluted beach. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 140:138-145. [PMID: 30803627 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the extent of macroplastic pollution on Samandağ beach and the potential effects on green sea turtles during nesting. For this purpose, a total of 39 different turtle tracks were studied. Mean plastic concentration was found to be 19.5 ± 1.2 pcs m-2. Among the different types of crawling, the highest concentrations of plastics were found on the tracks of turtles that did not attempt to dig nests (25.9 ± 8.4 pcs m-2). In total, 7 different types of plastics (disposable, film, fishing-related, foam, fragments, miscellaneous, and textile) were found, with film-type plastics being the most prevalent (11 pcs m-2). Samandağ beach was found to be greatly more polluted than any other beach in the Mediterranean Sea. We concluded that this pollution can cause negative effects, especially entanglement and entrapment, on green sea turtle females and hatchlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Gündoğdu
- Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330 Adana, Turkey.
| | - İrem Nur Yeşilyurt
- Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330 Adana, Turkey.
| | - Celal Erbaş
- Cukurova University, Yumurtalık Vacational School, 01330 Adana, Turkey.
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35
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Locritani M, Merlino S, Abbate M. Assessing the citizen science approach as tool to increase awareness on the marine litter problem. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 140:320-329. [PMID: 30803651 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides a quantitative assessment of students' attitude and behaviors towards marine litter before and after their participation to SEACleaner, an educational and citizen science project devoted to monitor macro- and micro-litter in an Area belonging to "Pelagos Sanctuary" (Mediterranean Sea). This approach produced interesting outcomes both for the research sector of marine pollution and environmental monitoring, as well for the scientific and environmental education. Here we focus on citizen science as an effective vector for raising young people awareness of marine litter and fostering sound behaviors. A specially designed questionnaire was administered to 87 High School students, to test the validity of such approach. The results state that the students change quantitatively their perception of beach-litter causes and derived problems, and they improved their knowledge about the main marine litter sources and the role of the sea in the waste transport and deposition along the coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Locritani
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Italy.
| | - S Merlino
- Institute of Marine Sciences - Italian Research Council (CNR-ISMAR), Italy
| | - M Abbate
- Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, L'energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Italy
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Zielinski S, Botero CM, Yanes A. To clean or not to clean? A critical review of beach cleaning methods and impacts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 139:390-401. [PMID: 30686442 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cleaning is a fundamental concern of beach managers in many destinations as well as an important requirement in beach quality awards. However, it has been largely neglected in the literature. This paper provides an overview of empirical studies on beach cleaning and analyzes cleaning-related requirements of 11 beach awards that generate controversy in the literature. This study comments on key aspects of beach cleaning, resolves various misconceptions, and provides new perspectives by integrating related topics drawn from a wide range of literature. The arguments based on both the ecological and tourism managerial perspectives are presented, indicating the gaps and proposing research solutions. The paper calls for empirical studies with regard to the efficiency of different cleaning approaches on beaches with varying levels of use intensity and for methodological designs that separate the impacts of mechanical grooming from those of trampling, dune destruction, shore armoring, artificial lighting, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seweryn Zielinski
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, 151-742 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Camilo M Botero
- Coastal Systems Research Group, Playas Corporacion, Colombia.
| | - Andrea Yanes
- Department of Civil and Environmental, University of the Coast, Calle 58, #55 - 66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
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Merlino S, Abbate M, Pietrelli L, Canepa P, Varella P. Marine litter detection and correlation with the seabird nest content. RENDICONTI LINCEI-SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12210-018-0750-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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