ASSSESSMENT OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE MONTENEGRO COAST

This study presents an assessment of the ecological state of the Montenegrin coast based on the presence of microplastics in mullet (Mullus barbatus), hake (Merluccius merluccius), mussels (Mitilus galloprovincialis) and in surface sediments. The frequency of microplastic ingestion was 58.6% for mullet, 54% for hake and 53.3% for mussels. The average amount of microplastics in surface sediments from the Montenegrin coast was 410.5 ± 44.7 MPs/kg of dry sediment. Filaments, blue in color, were the most abundant forms of microplastics in fish, mussels and surface sediments, while polypropylene and polyethylene were the most abundant polymers. Compared to research around the world, the Montenegrin coast is moderately to highly polluted with microplastics, depending on the investigated location and the examined samples.