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

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

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

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

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

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

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OECD FORD obor

20700 - Environmental engineering

Projekt

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Návaznosti

V - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z jinych verejnych zdroju

Rok uplatnění

2024

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

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

Název periodika

Toxics

ISSN

2305-6304

e-ISSN

2305-6304

Svazek periodika

12

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

8

Stát vydavatele periodika

CH - Švýcarská konfederace

Počet stran výsledku

12

Strana od-do

1-12

Kód UT WoS článku

001307455000001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

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