title: Marine litter on Mediterranean shores: Analysis of composition, spatial distribution and sources in north-western Adriatic beaches.
abstract: Marine litter is one descriptor in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). This study provides the first account of an MSFD indicator (Trends in the amount of litter deposited on coastlines) for the north-western Adriatic. Five beaches were sampled in 2015. Plastic dominated in terms of abundance, followed by paper and other groups. The average density was 0.2 litter items m(-2), but at one beach it raised to 0.57 items m(-2). The major categories were cigarette butts, unrecognizable plastic pieces, bottle caps, and others. The majority of marine litter came from land-based sources: shoreline and recreational activities, smoke-related activities and dumping. Sea-based sources contributed for less. The abundance and distribution of litter seemed to be particularly influenced by beach users, reflecting inadequate disposal practices. The solution to these problems involves implementation and enforcement of local educational and management policies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corbau
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via G. Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy. Electronic address: msm@unife.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mistri
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007558:Italy; D010209:Paper; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Adriatic Sea; In situ deposition; Marine Strategy Framework Directive; Marine litter