A critical review of the recent trends in source tracing of microplastics in the environment

Anthropogenic Microparticles Abundance in Sandy Beach Sediments along the Tetouan Coast (Morocco Mediterranean)

“…Martil beach is adjacent to the Martil River, which discharges the wastewater of the city into the coast. River discharges could be one of the sources of AM pollution in the study area [13,78]. As this site is very highly used by local populations and tourists in all four seasons of the year, the degree of littering is higher than at the other four beaches that we surveyed.…”

“…MPs can be intentionally produced at a microscopic scale for use in personal care products, detergents, etc., known as primary microplastics; or they can result from the breakdown of larger plastic items (macroplastics) in aquatic ecosystems due to environmental factors, which are called secondary microplastics [12]. The main sources of environmental MPs pollution include accidental discharge of plastic pellets, improper disposal of plastic items, tire wear, loss of fishing gear, discharges from wastewater treatment plants, runoff from stormwater, and fibers released during the washing of fabrics/textiles [13]. The concentration of MPs in a marine environment is influenced by various factors, including proximity to urban centers, marine currents, wind direction, tides, and waves [13].…”

“…The main sources of environmental MPs pollution include accidental discharge of plastic pellets, improper disposal of plastic items, tire wear, loss of fishing gear, discharges from wastewater treatment plants, runoff from stormwater, and fibers released during the washing of fabrics/textiles [13]. The concentration of MPs in a marine environment is influenced by various factors, including proximity to urban centers, marine currents, wind direction, tides, and waves [13]. Among the microparticles that contaminate the marine environment, microfibers (MFs) are the predominant type [14][15][16].…”