Types, occurrence and distribution of microplastics in sediments from the northern Tyrrhenian Sea

Abstract

This is the first survey to investigate microplastic contamination in the Northern Tyrrhenian seafloor, along a 31 km-long transect from the port of Piombino (Tuscany) to the port of Portoferraio (Elba Island). Plastics extracted from 58 sediment samples were counted and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Plastic pollution occurred in sites closer to ports as well as in offshore stations. Microplastics (1-5 mm) accounted for over 80% of particles. For all samples, the dominant microplastic type was filaments, followed by fragments and films. Six polymers were identified: nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephtalate were the most common. This part of the Tyrrhenian Sea is a busy shipping route connecting the mainland to the Elba Island, with thousands cargo and passenger ships passing by per year. Our data constitute a baseline for microplastic research in the Tyrrhenian seafloor.

Keywords: FT-IR spectroscopy; Microplastics; Polymer composition; Sediments; Tyrrhenian Sea.