Three-dimensional distribution of plastic pellets in sandy beaches: shifting paradigms.
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ABSTRACT: Plastic pellets are worldwide contaminants that accumulate in the ocean, especially in sandy beaches, where their historic standing-stock quantification relies on surface sediment samples. We demonstrated these particles present a three-dimensional instead of a simple along-across shore distribution, being found as deep as 2.0 m, with surface layers accounting for <10% of the total abundance in the sediment column. This gradient seemed to be more related to oceanographic rather than anthropic processes, suggesting a general pattern whose applicability to microplastics and sedimentary environments as a whole should be investigated. This poses criticism in the exactness of standing-stock records and demands urgent discussion of sampling protocols.
SUBMITTER: Turra A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3967197 | biostudies-other | 2014
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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