Characteristics and temporal trends of microplastics in the coastal area in the Southern Black Sea over the past decade

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2021-12, Vol.173 (Pt A), p.112993-112993, Article 112993
• Main Authors: Eryaşar, Ahmet Raif, Gedik, Kenan, Şahin, Ahmet, Öztürk, Rafet Çağrı, Yılmaz, Fatih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Black Sea; Chemical analysis; Coastal water; Coastal zone; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Marine ecosystems; Microplastics; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Pollution; Pollution research; Polyethylene; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polymers; Seawater; Spatial distribution; Temporal distribution; Time series; Vulnerable marine ecosystems; Water analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112993

Time-series datasets showing the gradual conformational change in the status and characteristics of microplastics (MP) in marine waters are needed to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. In this study, the abundance, spatiotemporal distribution, polymer composition, size, and shapes of the MP in the seawater sampled from 0.5 (station-1), 2.5 (station-2), and 5 (station-3) miles off the coast of the southeastern Black Sea between 2009 and 2020 were investigated. The abundance of the MP ranged from 0.181 to 0.944 m−3. The amounts of MP in the stations, from the greatest to the smallest, were 0.65 MP m−3 (2), 0.45 MP m−3 (1), 0.29 MP m−3 (3). Thirteen types of polymers were detected by FTIR, the most abundant types of which were polyethylene (44.9%) and polyethylene terephthalate (25.3%). Sizes of MP ranged from 118 to 4998 μm, 50% being smaller than 2000 μm. The most dominant shape of the MPs was fragments (56.3%). Abundance did not show significant spatiotemporal changes. Periodical data presented herein may represent a remarkable projection and create a baseline for the ecosystem's future functioning and pollution research in the Black Sea. [Display omitted] •The first gradual time series data set for MP status over a decade in the Black Sea.•MPs ranged from 0.181–0.944 MPs m−3 in the seawater.•PE and PET were the most abundant polymer types.•The dominant shape among MPs was fragment.•Temporal and spatial variations of MPs were negligible.