Shooting down microplastics

Abstract

Presently, microplastic pollution has infiltrated almost every biome on the planet. The breakdown of these particles increases the possibility of transport to remote or distant locations, as well as their deposition on the seabed and within different sediments. Their size and durability allow for recirculation throughout the water column, which in turn increases the chance of infiltration into the food web. Due to the nature of these particles, studies are limited, and new methodologies have been lacking. This research aimed at studying the abundance and composition of microplastics found on and within sandy beaches around the island of Malta, namely Golden Bay, Riviera Bay, Pretty Bay, and Għadira bay. The employed methodology followed the standard MSFD procedures to aid the building of comparable data and cohesive reporting. The fieldworks were carried out during the summer season, within the months of August and September. The analysis was done using a tool new to the University of Malta, the mIRoGun 4.0, a unit which uses near infrared spectrometry to identify different types of polymers found within microplastics. The results indicated that the overall microplastic pollution on sandy beaches decreased, however there is still significant evidence of secondary microplastic pollution from anthropogenic activities, especially on Golden Bay. Through the interpreted data, the study aims at providing a source for the microplastic pollution, with the goal of influencing specific policy change and increasing overall awareness.