Baseline assessment for microplastics in the white seabream diplodus sargus and in marine sediments in Lebanese coastal waters

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea has been witnessing increasing plastic pollution every year that led to an increasing trend in scientific evaluations of microplastics in marine organisms, the water column and in sediments. In Lebanon, very few studies have been conducted on the concentration and impact of microplastic pollution of ecosystem and human health. This study aimed at evaluating microplastic pollution in the sediments at two different depths for different areas across Lebanon (Artificial Reef in Berbara (AR2020), Ibrahim river, Litani river, Tyre and Jbeil), and in the stomach of one of the top 8 commercial species Diplodus sargus. Microplastic particles were identified in the sediment samples of all sites with AR2020 registering 240 particles/Kg, Ibrahim river registering 280 particles/Kg, Litani river estuary 260 particles/Kg, Tyre 246.6 particles/Kg, and Jbeil 187 particles/Kg. Fibers represented most of the particles (61.8%), followed by fragments (29.2%), and finally filaments and pellets (5.2% and 3.6%), respectively. No statistical significance was found between sediment samples compared from different depth, and no statistical significance was detected between locations. In the fish sampled in June, there were 25 particles/Kg in the stomach of Diplodus Sargus, in July there were 23 particles/Kg, in August there were 6 particles/Kg, in September there were 17 particles/Kg and finally, in October there were 11 particles/Kg. However, no statistical significance was found when comparing between fish sex, and when comparing between months of fish capture. The results validated the presence of microplastics in marine sediments as well as fish stomach.