PE, PP and PS: The most abundant type of microplastics in Mediterranean coastal waters
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A recent study finds that polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene are the most abundant microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea.
Authors -Miquel Canals, William P. de Haan, and Anna Sànchez-Vidal
Summary
This study describes the presence of different types of microplastics in the peninsular coastal Mediterranean, in particular at the coasts of Catalonia, the region of Murcia and Almeria in Spain. According to the results, other abundant types are nylon polymers, polyurethane (PUR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and fluorocarbon polymer. The experts also identified for the first time, signs of plastic materials with marine origins -in particular, particles of ship painting- which were not studied in the Mediterranean basin until now.
