Microplastic (MPs, plastics <5 mm) contamination of the marine environment has become one of the world’s main environmental concerns, not only because of their continuous accumulation but also due to their serious threats posed to the ecosystems. This is the first review to present the current state of MPs pollution in three vegetated coastal systems: mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes. These habitat-forming ecosystems are known to enhance deposition of suspended particles, including MPs. We aim to provide a more integrated view of MPs pollution specially including (i) geographical distribution of studies; (ii) MPs pollution by mean accumulation in the different environmental compartments in each ecosystem; (iii) factors influencing MPs distribution: vegetation, core depth and anthropogenic pressure and (iv) MPs characteristics: size, colour and polymer composition. We found an unequal geographic distribution with most studies performed in the Northern hemisphere. Likewise, we found a significant difference in the spatial distribution of MPs attributed to different levels of anthropogenic activities and natural factors. Fibers and fragments are the dominant form of MPs found in theses systems and blue, black and transparent are the most abundant colour. Polypropylene was the most abundant polymer, followed by polyethylene and polystyrene. The results of this study highlight the importance that vegetated coastal ecosystems have in MP retention and sink.  

Primary Presenter: Gema Hernan, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies-CSIC UIB (gemahernanm@gmail.com)

Authors:

Gema Hernan, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies-CSIC-UIB  (gemahernanm@gmail.com)

Esther Rodriguez, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies-CSIC-UIB  (estherbgr98@gmail.com)

Fiona Tomas, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies-CSIC-UIB  (fiona@imedea.uib-csic.es)