Beneath the water column: Uncovering microplastic pollution in the sublittoral coastal sediments of the Canary Islands, Spain

• Main Authors: Villanova-Solano, Cristina, Díaz-Peña, Francisco J, Hernández-Sánchez, Cintia, González-Sálamo, Javier, Edo, Carlos, Vega-Moreno, Daura, Fernández-Martín, Sonia, Fraile-Nuez, Eugenio, Machín, Francisco, Hernández-Borges, Javier
• Other Authors: Gobierno de Canarias, Cabildo Insular de La Gomera, La Caixa, Universidad de La Laguna, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier 2024
• Subjects: Marine sediment; Pollution; Plastic; µFTIR; Macaronesia; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/354564; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133128

Marine ecosystems pollution by microplastics (MPs) is a global problem of special concern. The present study examines the prevalence and distribution of MPs and cellulosic particles in sublittoral coastal sediments of the Canary Islands archipelago (Spain). At twenty-six different locations alongside seven islands, three samples were taken parallel to the shoreline between 1 and 10 m depth (n = 78). Sediment samples were primarily digested with a HO solution followed by four flotations in a saturated NaCl solution. The mean concentration obtained was 3.9 ± 1.6 items/g of dry weight. A similar distribution pattern was observed across all islands concerning particles morphology, color, size and composition: mainly colorless/translucent and blue fibers (60.0%). Additionally, fragments were also found, and to a much lesser extent microbeads, films and tangled messes. MicroFourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis of 12.5% of the fibers, showed that they were mainly cellulosic (54.5%) -either natural or semisynthetic- followed by polyester (22.7%) and acrylic (4.5%). The potential correlation between particle distribution in nearshore sediments and wave intensity was also explored. This work provides the first comprehensive report on the current MPs content of the seabed of the region. C.V.S. would like to thank “Fundación Diario de Avisos” for funding the MICROSED project with the financial support of the following entities: Consejería de Transición Ecológica, Lucha Contra el Cambio Climático y Planificación Territorial del Gobierno de Canarias, Cabildo de La Gomera, Turismo de Tenerife, Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Urbaser, Spring Hoteles, Binter, Fundación La Caixa (Acción Social de CaixaBank) and Fundación Cepsa. J.G.S. would like to thank the ACIISI for the Viera y Clavijo contract at the Universidad de La Laguna (85% co-financed from the European Social Fund). Authors also acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation (project PID2020–112867 GB-I00). C.E. thanks the ...