Sciences de la nature et de la vie

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Browsing Sciences de la nature et de la vie by Author "Halima, Grini"

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    Contribution to the study of marine plastic pollution in the Wilaya of Skikda
    (University of 20 August 1955-SKIKDA, 2023-06) Halima, Grini; Heddam, Salim
    The Mediterranean Sea has been identified as a hotspot for plastic pollution. The present study is the first attempt to provide original data on plastics debris occurrence in beach sediments along 50 km of the Skikda Gulf in Algeria (southwestern Mediterranean Sea). Sediment samples from seven beaches along the Skikda coastline were collected to extract, quantify, and characterize plastic debris. Plastics particles were classified regarding their size into macroplastics (particles > 25 mm), mesoplastics (particles ranging between 5 and 25 mm), and large microplastics (particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm). Overall, microplastic was the most abundant size fraction in terms of number of items. At the same time, the average mass of mesoplastics doubled that of microplastics, revealing a noticeable reservoir of plastics that is hardly ever reported in the literature. The predominant plastic types were fragments and pellets, and white/transparent color. The average concentrations of plastic were 1067.19 ± 625.62 item/m², and 50.65 ± 9.82 g/m² (Autumn 2018), 7860.74 item/m² (Spring 2019), and 6744.44 item/m² (Autumn 2019). Showing variability among beaches and within sampling sites. The Skikda coast presented high pollution levels compared to other areas in the Mediterranean Sea and further regions of the world. Kef Fatma and Guerbes were the most contaminated sites, large and open beaches located on the eastern coast of Skikda with low anthropic development. The spatial differences suggest transport and accumulation of plastics far away from the urban and industrial sources because of local winds and the west-east currents, revealing the spread of the anthropic impact in the area.