Study on The Presence of Microplastics in the Surface Sediments of the Caspian coast (A case study of Farahabad coast in Sari)

Sharifi Kiasari, Fatemeh; Talaeian, Mohammad; Nasrollahzadeh Saravi, Hasan

Study on The Presence of Microplastics in the Surface Sediments of the Caspian coast (A case study of Farahabad coast in Sari)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fatemeh sharifi kiasari ¹

Mohammad talaeian ¹

Hasan Nasrollahzadeh saravi ²

¹ Karaj University of Environment

² Caspian Sea Ecological Research Institute

Abstract

This paper investigates the frequency of microplastics present on the Caspian coast. To estimate the number and distribution of microplastics based on size, shape, and color, the sand sediments of Farah Abad station were investigated in winter, spring and summer 2018. The results show that the microplastics with the size of 1 to 4.5 mm are more abundant than particles larger or equal to 5 mm. The various forms of microplastics, including foams, have 543 numbers per square meter in the Farah Abad region. Microplastics are scattered on the shores of the Caspian Sea in an unbalanced way. The color white was the most abundant color among all forms and types of polystyrene, nylon and polypropylene microplastics in this region these particles have been created along the coast due to the proximity of pollutant sources such as industrial waste, urban waste, tourist sites and residential areas that do not respect the sea border.

Keywords

Microplastics

Caspian Sea

Farah Abad coast

Foam