Microplastics in Sediments from a Sandy Beach in Costa Nova (Aveiro, Portugal)

Verónica Godoy (), Joana Correia Prata, Antonio Pérez, Joao Pinto da Costa, Teresa Rocha-Santos and Armando C. Duarte
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Verónica Godoy: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Joana Correia Prata: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Antonio Pérez: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Joao Pinto da Costa: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Teresa Rocha-Santos: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Armando C. Duarte: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to perform an approximation on the microplastic pollution on a sandy beach in Costa Nova (Portugal), focused on longitudinal and cross-sectional transects. The results showed a scarce variability in data, with median concentrations ranging from 142 to 356 p/kg d.w. and 211 to 270 p/kg d.w. in cross-sectional and longitudinal transects, respectively. The predominant morphology was microspheres, which accounted for more than 90% in all samples analysed, whereas the most abundant microplastics were <200 µm in size. Microplastic contamination was higher than in other Portuguese beaches despite the moderate–low touristic pressure in Costa Nova, which led us to consider the intense commercial activity of the nearby port and the Canary and Portuguese currents as possible drivers of microplastic pollution in this area. However, this study highlights the disparity in data caused by different methodologies used when similar areas are analysed.

Keywords: microplastic pollution; sandy beach; Portuguese coast; microplastic identification; microspheres (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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