title: Micro- and mesoplastics in Northeast Levantine coast of Turkey: The preliminary results from surface samples.
abstract: The determination of the microplastic distribution will be beneficial as a measure of the potential effects on the environment. The Mediterranean Sea had a high risk of pollution as it was enclosed by highly populated and industrialized countries. Here, we determined the level of micro- and mesoplastic pollution in Iskenderun and Mersin Bays, located in the Northeastern Levantine coast of Turkey. The average level of both micro- and mesoplastic was determined to be 0.376 item/m2at seven stations. The highest level was determined in Mersin Bay at the mouth of the Seyhan river (Station no. 7, with 906 items), and the lowest level was found in Station no. 4 in Iskenderun Bay (78 items). As a result of this study, it was determined that the microplastic pollution level in the Mediterranean coast of Turkey was similar to the other regions of the Mediterranean Sea.
authors.affiliation: Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330 Adana, Turkey. Electronic address: sgundogdu@cu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gündoğdu
authors.affiliation: Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330 Adana, Turkey. Electronic address: cem95@cu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Çevik
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D014421:Turkey; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Iskenderun Bay; Levantine Sea; Marine litter; Mersin Bay; Mesoplastic; Microplastic