High microplastic pollution in marine sediments associated with urbanised areas along the SW Bulgarian Black Sea coast

This study aims to provide baseline data on microplastic (MP) concentrations in beach and seabed sediments of the SW Black Sea coast, and to identify possible sources of MP pollution in the area. MP concentrations in beach sediments in urbanised coastal areas, as well as in all seabed sediments, were on average higher than in other parts of the Black Sea and most other European seas. Urban coastal areas showed the highest average MP concentrations (mean ± SD): 464.44 ± 272.50 MP·kg^-1 dry sediment in beach samples, 825.93 ± 396.30 MP·kg^-1 dry sediment in seabed samples, while coastal sediments in an area with no local anthropogenic activities had significantly lower average MP concentrations: 84.44 ± 147.57 MP·kg^-1 in beach samples, and 550.62 ± 245.71 MP·kg^-1 in seabed samples. Possible identified sources of MPs include sewage water discharges, urban waste, coastal fisheries and aquaculture, as well as accumulation of marine litter on beaches and in adjacent offshore areas, serving as sources of secondary MP pollution.