Monitoring of Microplastics in the Marine Environment and Their Ecological Risks; the Coastline of Alexandria, Egypt as a Case study

Hamdy Et Al., Nourhan

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2024.367795

Monitoring of Microplastics in the Marine Environment and Their Ecological Risks; the Coastline of Alexandria, Egypt as a Case study

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Nourhan Hamdy et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2024.367795

Abstract

Microplastics (MP) are one of the most significant pollutants in the marine environment. For the first time along the Alexandria coast from the eastern to the western side, Egypt, the study recorded MP in surface water and sediment (bed, and beach) from five stations covering two seasons in 2020. In addition, the study evaluated the potential ecological risk of MP using the polymer hazard index (PHI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI). Results indicated the fluctuation of MP abundance in water samples (1.3 MP/ l). The wet season showed a higher abundance of MP. The MP content of beach sediment (446.9 MP/ Kg) was more than that of the bed sediment (170.6 MP/ Kg). Most MP particles were fiber-shaped, blue, and transparent, with sizes larger than 1 mm. The chemical identification showed that polyamide and rayon were the most common polymers in most samples. The ecological risk indices indicate that Sidi Bishir area is classified as V level of risk, and the bed and beach sediments are subjected to extreme danger of MP pollution. The study recommends a deeper interest in the chemical analysis of polymers and standardizing the sampling and identification methods. Clear management strategies to control MP aquatic pollution with MP should be addressed.

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