Characterization of floating microplastic contamination in the bay of Marseille (French Mediterranean Sea) and its impact on zooplankton and mussels

Type Article
Date 2022-02
Language English
Author(s) Gérigny Olivia1, Pedrotti M.-L.2, El Rakwe MariaORCID3, Brun MelanieORCID4, Pavec Marc5, Henry Maryvonne1, Mazeas Florence3, Maury J.2, Garreau PierreORCID6, Galgani FrancoisORCID1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Ifremer, ODE/LITTORAL/LER-PAC, La Seine-sur-Mer, France
2 : Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, Villefranche sur mer, France
3 : Ifremer, REM/RDT/LDCM, Brest, France
4 : Ifremer, ODE/VIGIES, Nantes, France
5 : Actimar, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
6 : Ifremer, Univ. Brest, CNRS UMR 6523, IRD, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, 29280 Plouzané, France
Source Marine Pollution Bulletin (0025-326X) (Elsevier BV), 2022-02 , Vol. 175 , P. 113353 (12p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113353
WOS© Times Cited 9
Keyword(s) Microplastics, Mediterranean Sea, Harbor, Impact, Zooplankton
Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) were sampled in three seasons from 2016 to 2018 in the Bay of Marseille, northwestern Mediterranean Sea, adjacent to a highly urbanized area. Six sites were selected according to their different characteristics (river mouth, treatment plants, protected marine area). Surface floating MPs were characterized (number, weight, typology and polymer) as was zooplankton. In addition, mussels were submerged and used to investigate ingestion. Finally, a hydrodynamic model was used to improve understanding of dispersion mechanisms. The annual averages of floating MPs values ranged from 39,217 to 514,817 items/km2. The MPs collected were mainly fragments principally composed of polyethylene and polypropylene. The mean abundance ratio (MPs/zooplankton) was 0.09. On average 87% of mussel pools were contaminated and ingested 18.73 items/100 g of flesh. Two hydrodynamic patterns were identified: the first retaining the MPs in the harbor, and the second dispersing them outside.

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Gérigny Olivia, Pedrotti M.-L., El Rakwe Maria, Brun Melanie, Pavec Marc, Henry Maryvonne, Mazeas Florence, Maury J., Garreau Pierre, Galgani Francois (2022). Characterization of floating microplastic contamination in the bay of Marseille (French Mediterranean Sea) and its impact on zooplankton and mussels. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 175, 113353 (12p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113353 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00750/86165/