THE BLACK SEA AND MICROPLASTICS: SEVASTOPOL

Abstract

Within the framework of the monthly monitoring the study of qualitative and quantitative composition and distribution of microand small macroplastic on sandy and pebbly beaches of Sevastopol is initiated. Microplastics and small macroplastic abundance was estimated from surveys on two of the most popular Sevastopol sandy beaches of the Crimea Black Sea Coast (Omega beach and Uchkuyevka beach). The samples were collected during March April 2016 from the top 5 cm of the numerous square areas (1×1 m) placed on 20 m long transects perpendicularly 100-meter lines along the shore line. Three type of stainless steel sieves were used: mesh sizes 5 mm, 1 mm and 0,3 mm. In the laboratory, the collected sediments were introduced into a glass tank with a high concentration solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) 140 g l-1, the floating plastic particles recovered, sorted and categorized by type, usage and erosion level. The mean microplastics densities on Omega and Uchkuyevka Beach were 4,2 ± 0,95 and 2,6 ± 0,95 items m-2, accordingly. Most of micropastics items were rigid fragments (60%), polystyrene (25%) and polyethylene (15%). Number of macroplastic particles (size of 5-100 mm) by 1 m-2 ranged from 2.35 to 57, the mean abundance on Omega and Uchkuyevka beaches were 10,1 ± 0,95 and 7,3 ± 0,95, accordingly.