The Mediterranean Plastic Soup: synthetic polymers in Mediterranean surface waters
Abstract
The Mediterranean Sea has been recently proposed as one of the most impacted regions of the world with regards to microplastics, however the polymeric composition of these floating particles is still largely unknown. Here we present the results of a large-scale survey of neustonic micro- and meso-plastics floating in Mediterranean waters, providing the first extensive characterization of their chemical identity as well as detailed information on their abundance and geographical distribution. All particles >700 μm collected in our samples were identified through FT-IR analysis (n = 4050 particles), shedding for the first time light on the polymeric diversity of this emerging pollutant. Sixteen different classes of synthetic materials were identified. Low-density polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene were the most abundant compounds, followed by polyamides, plastic-based paints, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and polyvinyl alcohol. Less frequent polymers included polyethylene terephthalate, polyisoprene, poly(vinyl stearate), ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyepoxide, paraffin wax and polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polyester reported for the first time floating in off-shore waters. Geographical differences in sample composition were also observed, demonstrating sub-basin scale heterogeneity in plastics distribution and likely reflecting a complex interplay between pollution sources, sinks and residence times of different polymers at sea.
Autore Pugliese
Tutti gli autori
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Suaria G. , Avio C.G. , Mineo A. , Lattin G.L. , Magaldi M.G. , Belmonte G. , Moore C.J. , Regoli F. , Aliani S.
Titolo volume/Rivista
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Anno di pubblicazione
2016
ISSN
2045-2322
ISBN
Non Disponibile
Numero di citazioni Wos
Nessuna citazione
Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni
Non Disponibile
Numero di citazioni Scopus
28
Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni
28/04/2018
Settori ERC
Non Disponibile
Codici ASJC
Non Disponibile
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