Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco)
In this study, we evaluated the pollution in Al Hoceima Bay (Southwestern Mediterranean, Morocco) by microplastics. Nine stations were investigated in 2019, 2020, and 2021, using the Manta net and the microplastics were identified and quantified with Raman Spectroscopy. The obtained results showed t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Waste Management Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949750724000038 |
| _version_ | 1797237824297107456 |
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| author | Oumayma Bouadil Mostapha Benomar Hossain El Ouarghi Moulay Abdelazize Aboulhassan Samir Benbrahim |
| author_facet | Oumayma Bouadil Mostapha Benomar Hossain El Ouarghi Moulay Abdelazize Aboulhassan Samir Benbrahim |
| author_sort | Oumayma Bouadil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we evaluated the pollution in Al Hoceima Bay (Southwestern Mediterranean, Morocco) by microplastics. Nine stations were investigated in 2019, 2020, and 2021, using the Manta net and the microplastics were identified and quantified with Raman Spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that fibers, fragments, pellets, and films were the predominant types of microplastics. The dominant size of microplastics ranged from 0.15 to5 mm while 0.3–0.5 mm was the most prevalent with 46.97 %. Seven colours counting white and blue as dominant items were recorded. The abundance of microplastics was 1–15 items/m3, with an average of 4.70 ± 4.50 items/m3. Four polymers dominated by Polyethylene (67.4 %), Polypropylene (23.2 %), Polystyrene (7.1 %), and Polyethylene Terephthalates (2.3 %) were identified. The spatial distribution of microplastics was variable. The abundance of microplastics was not related to the distance separating potential sources from the sampled stations. Our study provided the initial data on microplastics and their distribution along the Mediterranean coasts of Morocco, recommended for future investigations of marine pollution in the Mediterranean basin. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:25:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c484efc44ba4f869ac462616493ae8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2949-7507 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:25:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Waste Management Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c484efc44ba4f869ac462616493ae8d2024-03-28T06:40:27ZengElsevierWaste Management Bulletin2949-75072024-04-0121142151Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco)Oumayma Bouadil0Mostapha Benomar1Hossain El Ouarghi2Moulay Abdelazize Aboulhassan3Samir Benbrahim4Laboratory of Applied Sciences, Environmental Management and Civil Engineering Research Team, ENSAH, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan, Morocco; Corresponding author.Chemistry Laboratory, National Institut of Fisheries Research, Mnar, Cap Malabata, Km 15 Road of Ksar Sghir, 93000 Tangier, MoroccoLaboratory of Applied Sciences, Environmental Management and Civil Engineering Research Team, ENSAH, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan, MoroccoLaboratory of Mechanic Process Energy and Environment, National School of Applied Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, PO Box 1136/S, Agadir, MoroccoDepartment of Salinity and Sanitation of the Marine Environment, National Institut of Fisheries Research, 2, BLVD Sidi Abderahman, Ain Diab, 20100 Casablanca, MoroccoIn this study, we evaluated the pollution in Al Hoceima Bay (Southwestern Mediterranean, Morocco) by microplastics. Nine stations were investigated in 2019, 2020, and 2021, using the Manta net and the microplastics were identified and quantified with Raman Spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that fibers, fragments, pellets, and films were the predominant types of microplastics. The dominant size of microplastics ranged from 0.15 to5 mm while 0.3–0.5 mm was the most prevalent with 46.97 %. Seven colours counting white and blue as dominant items were recorded. The abundance of microplastics was 1–15 items/m3, with an average of 4.70 ± 4.50 items/m3. Four polymers dominated by Polyethylene (67.4 %), Polypropylene (23.2 %), Polystyrene (7.1 %), and Polyethylene Terephthalates (2.3 %) were identified. The spatial distribution of microplastics was variable. The abundance of microplastics was not related to the distance separating potential sources from the sampled stations. Our study provided the initial data on microplastics and their distribution along the Mediterranean coasts of Morocco, recommended for future investigations of marine pollution in the Mediterranean basin.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949750724000038Microplastic pollutionWater columnAl Hoceima bayMediterranean assessmentAbundance |
| spellingShingle | Oumayma Bouadil Mostapha Benomar Hossain El Ouarghi Moulay Abdelazize Aboulhassan Samir Benbrahim Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco) Waste Management Bulletin Microplastic pollution Water column Al Hoceima bay Mediterranean assessment Abundance |
| title | Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco) |
| title_full | Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco) |
| title_fullStr | Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco) |
| title_short | Identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern Mediterranean Bay (Al Hoceima, Morocco) |
| title_sort | identification and quantification of microplastics in surface water of a southwestern mediterranean bay al hoceima morocco |
| topic | Microplastic pollution Water column Al Hoceima bay Mediterranean assessment Abundance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949750724000038 |
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