Homogeneity of Sand-Sized Microplastics Concentration and Polymer Assemblage in Beach and Coastal Dune Sediments.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics impact marine and terrestrial environments as vectors of chemical pollution, stunting the growth of dune plants and posing a threat to coastal ecosystems. Because they are more easily transported by wind from the beach environment into the coastal dunes than mineral sand grains, dune sediment ought to be relatively enriched in microplastics. To test this hypothesis, the concentrations and polymer assemblage of sand-sized (0.1-1 mm) microplastics (MPs) in surface sediment were compared between intertidal beach (marine) and coastal dune (aeolian) samples at two different UK coasts (mid-Wales adjacent to the Irish Sea and southeast England adjacent to the English Channel) using FT-IR microscopy. Results show no differences in polymer composition, diversity, or abundance between

SUBMITTER: Ormane R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12613819 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature