Microplastics. The abundance, extent and spatial distribution of microplastics contamination of sediments were determined across the Black Sea using samples obtained within the JBSS 2017. Microplastics (MPs) were determined in 83% of samples.The average abundance in all samples was 107,5 items/kg. The highest pollution occurred on the North-Western shelf where the abundance of MPs was 10 times higher than in sediments from the deep sea. The results showed the predominant abundance of PE/PP, polyamide and acrylate MPs in the samples. This correlates well with the global plastics production according to (Brien 2007), where PE (used in production of plastic bags, bottles, netting, drinking straws) amounts to 38% and PP (commonly used for ropes, bottle caps, netting) reaches 24% of plastics production in the world. Consequently, PE and PP in particular have high likelihood of ending up in the ocean environment(Andrady 2011). Geographical aspects of the Black Sea like high isolation from the World Ocean, the drainage area which exceeds its surface many times, intensive recreational and maritime uses of the sea, as well as continuously increasing population along the coastline make it specifically exposed for microplastics accumulation. For more information on the extent and distribution of MPs in the Black Sea further monitoring activities with wider spatial coverage and improved sampling methodologyare needed. It is recommended to enlarge the volume of sediment samples and alsocollect duplicate sample from each site to receive more complete datasets.
Microplastics. Eutrophication is a process that occurs in coastal and inland bodies of water due to excessive nutrient loading, derived mainly from anthropogenic activities, causing the growth of plants, algae and phytoplankton, which can lead to deoxyge- nation and loss of essential habitats for aquatic organisms. The Network is making efforts to implement harmonized methodologies to evaluate the trophic state of coastal ecosys- tems in the region. This information is useful and necessary for decision makers to generate public policies and integrated management plans aimed at mitigating the effects of nutrient overloading, preser- ving water quality, protecting biodiversity and the coastal resources that sustain the region's economy. Microplastics are one of the most alarming, complex and difficult to manage emerging pollutants. They are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters, either manufactured in that size, or as a result of the fragmentation of plastic waste, of industrial and domestic origin, that reaches the oceans. They are incorporated into various levels of the food chain, from plankton to whales, and reach humans through the consump- tion of fish products.
Microplastics. Because of the extremely low levels of microplastics and fibres quantified in both hotspot, as well as in commercial samples from round I, and for budgetary reasons, it was decided not to perform further analysis of microplastics in round II commercial samples, and not to assess the effect of cooking in microplastic levels found in seafood.
