First evidence of plastic pollution in beach sediments of the Skikda coast (northeast of Algeria). (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grini, Halima; Metallaoui, Sophia; González-Fernández, Daniel; Bensouilah, Mourad
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 181(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Plastic pollution -- Beach sediments -- Mediterranean Sea -- Skikda; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113831
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This study is the first attempt to provide original data on plastics debris occurrence in beach sediments of the Gulf of Skikda in Algeria (southwestern Mediterranean). Sediment samples from seven beaches were collected to extract, quantify and characterize mesoplastics and microplastics. Particles were classified by size into mesoplastics (5–25 mm) and large microplastics (1–5 mm). Overall, microplastics were the most abundant size fraction in terms of number of items. The average mass of mesoplastics was twice that of microplastics, revealing a notable reservoir of plastics that is scarcely ever reported in the literature. The predominant types were fragments and pellets, white/transparent in color. The average concentrations of total plastic were 1067.19 ± 625.62 items/m 2, 106.98 ± 62.39 items/kg, and 50.65 ± 9.82 g/m 2, showing variability between beaches and within sampling sites. Thus, the Skikda coast has high levels of pollution compared to other areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Plastic debris occurrence in beach sediments was assessed along 50 km of the Skikda coastline. Plastic concentrations peaked at Kef Fatma and Guerbes, located on the east coast of Skikda, far from anthropogenic impact Microplastics were the most abundant litter size fraction 68% Pellets and fragments were the most abundant plastic types, representing 95% of microplastics. Mass of mesoplastics doubled that of microplastics, revealing a noticeable reservoir of plastics that is hardly ever reported