Three-dimensional distribution of plastic pellets in sandy beaches: shifting paradigms
Turra, A.; Manzano, A.B.; Jasão S. Dias, R.; Mahiques, M.M.; Barbosa, L.; Balthazar-Silva, D.; Moreira, F.T. (2014). Three-dimensional distribution of plastic pellets in sandy beaches: shifting paradigms. NPG Scientific Reports 4(4435): 7 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep04435
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Keywords |
Materials > Plastics
Pellets
Pollution
Sandy beaches
Spatial distribution
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Turra, A.
- Manzano, A.B.
- Jasão S. Dias, R.
- Mahiques, M.M.
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- Barbosa, L.
- Balthazar-Silva, D.
- Moreira, F.T.
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| Abstract |
Plastic pellets are worldwide contaminants that accumulate in the ocean, especially in sandy beaches, where their historic standing-stock quantification relies on surface sediment samples. We demonstrated these particles present a three-dimensional instead of a simple along-across shore distribution, being found as deep as 2.0 m, with surface layers accounting for <10% of the total abundance in the sediment column. This gradient seemed to be more related to oceanographic rather than anthropic processes, suggesting a general pattern whose applicability to microplastics and sedimentary environments as a whole should be investigated. This poses criticism in the exactness of standing-stock records and demands urgent discussion of sampling protocols. |
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