Frias J P G L, Gago J, Otero V, Sobral P
MARE FCT-UNL - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Monte de Caparica, Portugal.
Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Subida a Radio Faro, 50-52, Vigo 36390, Spain.
Mar Environ Res. 2016 Mar;114:24-30. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.12.006. Epub 2015 Dec 21.
Microplastics are well-documented pollutants in the marine environment that result from fragmentation of larger plastic items. Due to their long chemical chains, they can remain in the environment for long periods of time. It is estimated that the vast majority (80%) of marine litter derives from land sources and that 70% will sink and remain at the bottom of the ocean. Microplastics that result from fragmentation of larger pieces of plastic are common to be found in beaches and in the water surface. The most common microplastics are pellets, fragments and fibres. This work provides original data of the presence of microplastics in coastal sediments from Southern Portuguese shelf waters, reporting on microplastic concentration and polymer types. Microplastic particles were found in nearly 56% of sediment samples, accounting a total of 31 particles in 27 samples. The vast majority were microfibers (25), identified as rayon fibres, and fragments (6) identified as polypropylene, through infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR). The concentration and polymer type data is consistent with other relevant studies and reports worldwide.
微塑料是海洋环境中有充分记录的污染物，由较大塑料制品的破碎产生。由于其化学链长，它们可以在环境中长时间存在。据估计，绝大多数（80%）的海洋垃圾来自陆地来源，其中70%会下沉并留在海底。由较大塑料碎片破碎产生的微塑料常见于海滩和水面。最常见的微塑料是颗粒、碎片和纤维。这项工作提供了葡萄牙南部陆架水域沿海沉积物中微塑料存在的原始数据，报告了微塑料浓度和聚合物类型。在近56%的沉积物样本中发现了微塑料颗粒，27个样本中共有31个颗粒。通过红外光谱（μ-FTIR），绝大多数是微纤维（25个），被鉴定为人造丝纤维，以及碎片（6个），被鉴定为聚丙烯。浓度和聚合物类型数据与全球其他相关研究和报告一致。
