Protracted dynamicity of microplastics in the coastal sediment of the Southeast Black Sea

Abstract

This study provided the first evaluation of microplastic abundance, features, risk assessment, and decade - changing status in sediment along the southeastern Black Sea coast. Sediment samples were collected from thirteen stations in the Southeast Black Sea in 2012 and 2022. >70 % of the detected microplastics had a length of up to 2.5 mm and consisted of fragments and fibers in shape. The average microplastic abundance in the sediment samples was 108 MP/kg. The composition in the sediment (particles/kg) was dominated by poly- ethylene (PE) (44.9 %), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (27.2 %), and polypropylene PP (15.2 %). Remarkable results for contamination factors, polymeric risk assessment and contamination risk indices. The sharp rise in MPS highlighted the heavily populated stations and stream discharge locations. The data shed light on anthropogenic and basal microplastic pollution in the Southeast Black Sea, assisting in developing effective policies for preserving and managing the Black Sea environment.