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Microplastic concentrations in water, sediments and beaches from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean collected during 2018-10-09 (NCEI Accession 0289355)

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This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm; reported in unit of items/m3 for water samples and items/kg d.w. for marine sediment and beach sand samples) in water, sediments and beach sand from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean collected during 2018-10-09. Microplastics suspended in water were collected with Neuston net, those in marine sediments were collected using a metal spoon while those in beach sand were collected using a Kubiena box. This dataset contains the results from all 4 water samples, 7 marine sediment samples, and 7 beach sand samples, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Expósito, Nora; Rovira, Joaquim; Sierra, Jordi; Folch, Jaume; Schuhmacher, Marta (2024). Microplastic concentrations in water, sediments and beaches from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean collected during 2018-10-09 (NCEI Accession 0289355). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0289355. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0289355

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Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	Excel
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2018-10-09 to 2018-10-09
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: 1.179444 East: 1.348889 South: 41.067778 North: 41.129167
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

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Descriptive Information
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present)
- NCEI Collection
  Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
Expósito N, Rovira J, Sierra J, Folch J, Schuhmacher M. Microplastics levels, size, morphology and composition in marine water, sediments and sand beaches. Case study of Tarragona coast (western Mediterranean). Science of The Total Environment. 2021 Sep 10; 786, 147453, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147453.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147453
  related journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2024-02-16
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Supplemental Information	Submission Package ID: PYTFGE
Purpose	These microplastic concentration data were collected in order to determine their abundance in water, sediments and beach sand from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean during 2018-10-09.
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: Expósito, Nora; Rovira, Joaquim; Sierra, Jordi; Folch, Jaume; Schuhmacher, Marta (2024). Microplastic concentrations in water, sediments and beaches from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean collected during 2018-10-09 (NCEI Accession 0289355). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0289355. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Expósito, Nora University of Rovira i Virgili Rovira, Joaquim University of Rovira i Virgili Sierra, Jordi University of Rovira i Virgili Folch, Jaume University of Rovira i Virgili Schuhmacher, Marta University of Rovira i Virgili
Contributors	University of Rovira i Virgili (URV)
Resource Providers	Joaquim Rovira University of Rovira i Virgili (URV) University of Rovira i Virgili (URV)
Points of Contact	Ebenezer Nyadjro Mississippi State University; Northern Gulf Institute (NGI)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS microplastic concentration NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ laboratory analyses WMO_CategoryCode oceanography Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > WATER QUALITY > SEA SURFACE CONTAMINANTS > MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS University of Rovira i Virgili NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS University of Rovira i Virgili
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer microscope Neuston net sediment sieve Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords FTIR SPECTROMETER > Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer GRANULOMETRIC SIEVES MICROSCOPES > MICROSCOPES NEUSTON NET Provider Instruments Kubiena box Metal spoon
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Balearic (or Iberian) Sea Mediterranean Sea Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > MEDITERRANEAN SEA Provider Place Names Western Mediterranean
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0289355

Use Constraints	Cite as: Expósito, Nora; Rovira, Joaquim; Sierra, Jordi; Folch, Jaume; Schuhmacher, Marta (2024). Microplastic concentrations in water, sediments and beaches from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean collected during 2018-10-09 (NCEI Accession 0289355). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0289355. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2024-02-16T22:04:51Z - NCEI Accession 0289355 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0289355 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0289355 v1.1 (download) published 2024-02-16T22:04:51Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: items/m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Neuston net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: This study investigated microplastics in sand, sediment and water samples. For surface water samples, four transects (T1 to T4) were done to collect seawater surface samples from Tarragona coast (from La Mora to Tarragona harbor) along shoreline. A neuston net with 80 μm mesh, with a diameter mouth of 24 cm, and 1 m long were used in horizontal transects between 746 and 1017 m at a speed of 1.5–2 knots. The transects were separated from shoreline between 500 and 924 m and in front of sand beach sampling points. Average volume filtered was 45.2 m3. For marine sediments, seven sediment samples (S1 to S7) were collected approximately at the start and end of each transect of seawater samples. Two divers descended between 15 and 17 m depth and collected subsamples in an area of 25 m2 of top 5 cm sediment layer with a metal spoon and glass bottle. Average weight collected was 600 g. For beach sand, a total of 14 samples were collected in 6 different beaches (B1 to B6) selected according to anthropogenic activities conditions such as industrial pressure, tourism, urbanism, runoff, river mouth and WWTP effluents discharges. The beaches located alongshore the 19 km of Tarragona city presented low to moderate slope (5–45°) and fine sand. These beaches are from north to south: La Mora (B1) and Sabinosa (B3), characterized by low tourism and urban pressure, Llarga (B2) and Arrabasada (B4) with tourism pressure and runoff influence, Miracle (B5) with tourism, urban pressure, and runoff influence and La Pineda (B6) with industrial, tourism, and urban pressure, river mouth, runoff and wastewater effluents discharges influences. The seawater samples retained in the cod-end of the net were carefully rinsed. The residues content of the cod-end was finally transferred to a sample container, stored frozen, and kept in the dark until further analysis. Seawater samples were sieved through a column of clean sieves (4, 2, and 1 mm; and 500, 125, and 45 μm) inside a fume hood. The material present in the sieves above 500 μm (4, 2, and 1 mm) were cleaned with ultrapure water. The larger particles and fibers of organic matter were removed with tweezer; the big possible plastic particles and fibers were placed it in a covered petri dish and the residue was filtered on Teflon filter (PTFE 5 μm pore size). The material retained in the sieves of 500, 125 and 45 μm residues were filtered on Teflon filter. Particles and fibers ≥500 μm without organic matter were selected with the stereoscopy microscope from 4 to 62× magnification (LEICA DMS 1000). Particles and fibers ≥500 μm that contained large amount of organic matter were filtered on Teflon filter of 5 μm pore size. For organic matter removal, the PTFE of 5 μm pore size were treated as follows: Alkali digestion (KOH 2M) followed by a Fenton process (H2O2 and FeSO4) at 40 °C and enzymatic digestion (cellulase)with sonication and agitations. Finally, plastic particles and fibers were counted using the stereoscopy microscope (LEICA DMS 1000). Sand beach and sediment samples were dried at 40 °C during 48 h and weighed; a small part was collected for granulometry analysis. Samples were sieved through a column of clean sieves (4, 2, 1 mm and 500 μm) placed in a mechanical shaker. Particles smaller than 500 μm were stored in well-capped aluminum containers for future analysis. Particles equal or bigger than 500 μm were analysed with visual sorting procedure: quantification and morphologic description under stereomicroscopic observation from 8 to 62× magnification. The buoyancy of these particles was checked testing on tree solutions: H2O, saturated NaCl (density 1.2 g/L), and saturated ZnCl2 (density 1.8 g/L). The criteria to reject or accept the particle as a plastic were based to individual plastic density and its buoyancy in each solution; they were grouped according the buoyancy solutions. Particles with a size above 0.5 mm were analysed with a Thermo Scientific NICOLET ATR-FTIR spectrometer with OMNIC™ Paradigm Software, with an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) adapter; the measurements were performed in reflection mode in the range of 400–3600 cm−1, with 50 scans at a resolution of 10 cm−1. Background was done before analysis and every 20 samples; Data Quality Method: To avoid sample contamination a closed and isolated site (fume hood) was established in the laboratory for samples processing, wearing laboratory cotton coats, using glass or steel materials and tools rinsed with 70% ethanol and after with ultrapure MilliQ® water filtered on 0.45 μm pore size filter (GF/F Whatman, 47 mm diameter, nitrocellulose), and covered in aluminum foils. All reagents were made with ultrapure water, stored in glass bottle and filtered (<0.43 μm pore size) before their use. Samples and subsamples were covered with aluminum paper for plastic contamination minimization trough air deposition. For sand and sediment analysis, two blanks were applied for each sample analysis: in sieving and visual sorting methodology. The workplace particles deposition rate was determined for two months with a value of 0.04 fibers/cm2/day. This rate was applied for the total filter area filtered in a day by sample. One blank for morphology examination on stereoscopy and optical microscope was located as an open petri dish. One blank for sample in basic—enzymatic digestion procedure was established for each sample. The blanks values, for each method were subtracted from the total particle counting due to deposit particle and fibers from laboratory environment.. Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: items/kg d.w; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Metal spoon. Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: items/kg d.w; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Kubiena box.

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: items/m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Neuston net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: This study investigated microplastics in sand, sediment and water samples. For surface water samples, four transects (T1 to T4) were done to collect seawater surface samples from Tarragona coast (from La Mora to Tarragona harbor) along shoreline. A neuston net with 80 μm mesh, with a diameter mouth of 24 cm, and 1 m long were used in horizontal transects between 746 and 1017 m at a speed of 1.5–2 knots. The transects were separated from shoreline between 500 and 924 m and in front of sand beach sampling points. Average volume filtered was 45.2 m3. For marine sediments, seven sediment samples (S1 to S7) were collected approximately at the start and end of each transect of seawater samples. Two divers descended between 15 and 17 m depth and collected subsamples in an area of 25 m2 of top 5 cm sediment layer with a metal spoon and glass bottle. Average weight collected was 600 g. For beach sand, a total of 14 samples were collected in 6 different beaches (B1 to B6) selected according to anthropogenic activities conditions such as industrial pressure, tourism, urbanism, runoff, river mouth and WWTP effluents discharges. The beaches located alongshore the 19 km of Tarragona city presented low to moderate slope (5–45°) and fine sand. These beaches are from north to south: La Mora (B1) and Sabinosa (B3), characterized by low tourism and urban pressure, Llarga (B2) and Arrabasada (B4) with tourism pressure and runoff influence, Miracle (B5) with tourism, urban pressure, and runoff influence and La Pineda (B6) with industrial, tourism, and urban pressure, river mouth, runoff and wastewater effluents discharges influences. The seawater samples retained in the cod-end of the net were carefully rinsed. The residues content of the cod-end was finally transferred to a sample container, stored frozen, and kept in the dark until further analysis. Seawater samples were sieved through a column of clean sieves (4, 2, and 1 mm; and 500, 125, and 45 μm) inside a fume hood. The material present in the sieves above 500 μm (4, 2, and 1 mm) were cleaned with ultrapure water. The larger particles and fibers of organic matter were removed with tweezer; the big possible plastic particles and fibers were placed it in a covered petri dish and the residue was filtered on Teflon filter (PTFE 5 μm pore size). The material retained in the sieves of 500, 125 and 45 μm residues were filtered on Teflon filter. Particles and fibers ≥500 μm without organic matter were selected with the stereoscopy microscope from 4 to 62× magnification (LEICA DMS 1000). Particles and fibers ≥500 μm that contained large amount of organic matter were filtered on Teflon filter of 5 μm pore size. For organic matter removal, the PTFE of 5 μm pore size were treated as follows: Alkali digestion (KOH 2M) followed by a Fenton process (H2O2 and FeSO4) at 40 °C and enzymatic digestion (cellulase)with sonication and agitations. Finally, plastic particles and fibers were counted using the stereoscopy microscope (LEICA DMS 1000). Sand beach and sediment samples were dried at 40 °C during 48 h and weighed; a small part was collected for granulometry analysis. Samples were sieved through a column of clean sieves (4, 2, 1 mm and 500 μm) placed in a mechanical shaker. Particles smaller than 500 μm were stored in well-capped aluminum containers for future analysis. Particles equal or bigger than 500 μm were analysed with visual sorting procedure: quantification and morphologic description under stereomicroscopic observation from 8 to 62× magnification. The buoyancy of these particles was checked testing on tree solutions: H2O, saturated NaCl (density 1.2 g/L), and saturated ZnCl2 (density 1.8 g/L). The criteria to reject or accept the particle as a plastic were based to individual plastic density and its buoyancy in each solution; they were grouped according the buoyancy solutions. Particles with a size above 0.5 mm were analysed with a Thermo Scientific NICOLET ATR-FTIR spectrometer with OMNIC™ Paradigm Software, with an Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) adapter; the measurements were performed in reflection mode in the range of 400–3600 cm−1, with 50 scans at a resolution of 10 cm−1. Background was done before analysis and every 20 samples; Data Quality Method: To avoid sample contamination a closed and isolated site (fume hood) was established in the laboratory for samples processing, wearing laboratory cotton coats, using glass or steel materials and tools rinsed with 70% ethanol and after with ultrapure MilliQ® water filtered on 0.45 μm pore size filter (GF/F Whatman, 47 mm diameter, nitrocellulose), and covered in aluminum foils. All reagents were made with ultrapure water, stored in glass bottle and filtered (<0.43 μm pore size) before their use. Samples and subsamples were covered with aluminum paper for plastic contamination minimization trough air deposition. For sand and sediment analysis, two blanks were applied for each sample analysis: in sieving and visual sorting methodology. The workplace particles deposition rate was determined for two months with a value of 0.04 fibers/cm2/day. This rate was applied for the total filter area filtered in a day by sample. One blank for morphology examination on stereoscopy and optical microscope was located as an open petri dish. One blank for sample in basic—enzymatic digestion procedure was established for each sample. The blanks values, for each method were subtracted from the total particle counting due to deposit particle and fibers from laboratory environment..
Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: items/kg d.w; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Metal spoon.
Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: items/kg d.w; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Kubiena box.

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer microscope Neuston net sediment sieve

Last Modified: 2024-02-17T16:29:52Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Microplastic concentrations in water, sediments and beaches from the Tarragona coast, western Mediterranean collected during 2018-10-09 (NCEI Accession 0289355)

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