Plastic pollution in a special protected area for migratory birds

Plastic pollution in Special Protected Areas for Migratory Birds and Sites of Community Importance is a growing environmental concern. These areas, often designated to provide safe habitats for migratory bird species, are increasingly threatened by plastic litter. In this study, we conducted the first assessment of plastic litter, ranging from macro to microplastics, in beach sediments from two sites (Montorsoli Beach and Pylon Beach) along the coast of the Strait of Messina, a Special Protected Area, to assess beach quality and ecological risk. The selected beaches for this study are representative example of two different possible source of anthropogenic contaminations. Plastic density ranged from 1.2 pieces/m² to 0.1 pieces/m², Montorsoli and Pylon Beach, respectively. The most abundant plastic litter consisted of plastic pieces ranging in size from 0.5 cm to 50 cm. Several anthropogenic microparticles were identified, including Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polytetrafluoroethylene, cotton fibers and cellulose-based materials. Montorsoli beach had a high percentage (91 %) of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). While in Pylon beach the main polymer was cotton (49 %). Furthermore, calculated pollution indices showed that Montorsoli was very dirty compared to Pylon beach. Furthermore, the presence of PMMA pellets found at Montorsoli beach may endanger marine birds that depend on the resources of these areas, which are designated as Special Protection Areas for rare and vulnerable bird species. This baseline assessment not only provides crucial information on the current status of plastic pollution, but also offers valuable data that can be instrumental in effective regional management efforts.