Plastic Pollution in Paradise: Analyzing Plastic Litter on Malta's Beaches and Assessing the Release of Potentially Toxic Elements

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989100%3A27710%2F24%3A10255291" target="_blank" >RIV/61989100:27710/24:10255291 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/8/568" target="_blank" >https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/8/568</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxics12080568" target="_blank" >10.3390/toxics12080568</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Plastic Pollution in Paradise: Analyzing Plastic Litter on Malta's Beaches and Assessing the Release of Potentially Toxic Elements

Original language description

This study investigates plastic litter on two beaches in Malta, Golden Bay and Rivera Beach, with a focus on plastic abundance, characteristics, sources, and the influence of human activity on pollution levels. Conducted in March 2023 during the low-tourist season, 13 sediment samples were collected from a depth of 5 cm using a systematic square sampling method. Plastic litter was quantified and sorted by size, shape, color, and polymer type, and concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were measured (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Fe via ICP-OES). Golden Bay exhibited significantly higher plastic quantities (53.9 +- 4.3 n/m2) compared to Rivera Beach (29.7 +- 4.0 n/m2). Microplastics were dominant on both beaches, with Golden Bay showing a higher proportion (57.0%) than Rivera Beach (50.6%). The plastic litter predominantly consisted of PE (59.6-68.0%) and PP (29.6-38.8%). Golden Bay plastics had PTE concentrations up to 4.9 times higher than those in Rivera Beach, notably for Mn (309.0 μg/g vs. 63.1 μg/g). This research contributes valuable insights into the dynamics of plastic pollution in coastal environments, particularly in areas influenced by tourism.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

20700 - Environmental engineering

Project

—

Continuities

V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Toxics

ISSN

2305-6304

e-ISSN

2305-6304

Volume of the periodical

12

Issue of the periodical within the volume

8

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

1-12

UT code for WoS article

001307455000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

—