title: Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in marine sediments along the Belgian coast.
abstract: Plastic debris is known to undergo fragmentation at sea, which leads to the formation of microscopic particles of plastic; the so called 'microplastics'. Due to their buoyant and persistent properties, these microplastics have the potential to become widely dispersed in the marine environment through hydrodynamic processes and ocean currents. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of microplastics was investigated in Belgian marine sediments from different locations (coastal harbours, beaches and sublittoral areas). Particles were found in large numbers in all samples, showing the wide distribution of microplastics in Belgian coastal waters. The highest concentrations were found in the harbours where total microplastic concentrations of up to 390 particles kg(-1) dry sediment were observed, which is 15-50 times higher than reported maximum concentrations of other, similar study areas. The depth profile of sediment cores suggested that microplastic concentrations on the beaches reflect the global plastic production increase.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. michiel.claessens@ugent.be
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Meester
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Landuyt
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Clerck
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical