Plastic pollution in shoreline water and beach sediment cores: an annual study

Abstract

Sediment core samples from high tide lines and in submerged zones as well as surface water samples from eight beaches of Tenerife were analysed. Sampling was conducted over a period of one year in intervals of 5 weeks. The majority of particles were found in the high tide sediment (66%), followed by water samples (23%) and finally in sediment from submerged zones (11%). Regarding the particle amount per volume (items/L), accumulation in sediment samples was statistically higher compared to water samples. Mean values of items/L were higher in high tide sediments. In high tide and water samples, mostly white and transparent particles >1 mm were found. More than 70% were represented by fragments. In sediments from submerged zones, yellow and blue microparticles (<1 mm) were predominant and 61.9% consisted of fibres. Larger particles were mainly identified as PP, PE, PS, PTFE and PVC, while polymer types of smaller particles were more variable.