evaluation of microplastic contamination in the persian gulf

Abstract: micro-plastics are plastics with a diameter between 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters. these plastics are worrying contaminants that found in more aquatic environments in estuaries, lakes, coastal waters and densely populated areas [1-4]. due to the properties of micro-plastics in the adsorption of toxic substances and their adverse effects on living organisms and food chains [1-3], the purpose of this study was to evaluate microplastics and their impact in the persian gulf. the scope of this study is to further identify and eliminate them in this ecosystem. in this study in the persian gulf basin, sediment sampling of 22 stations on the coast of bushehr province, 59 stations on the coast of hormozgan in 2018 and 2019 were performed. in this evaluation, after sediments sampling, plastic materials were identified by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ftir). the results confirm many of them were fiber type. based on the studies, the plastic samples were observed in terms of color in black, blue, red and white, respectively, with sizes in range 100 to 2000 micrometers. the abundance of these particles in the study was estimated at an average of 30.29 particle/kg. therefore, various factors such as population, incoming sewage, shipping and fishing activities and industrial activities on the coast are very effective on microplastic contamination [3]. as a result, considering the importance of the persian gulf as a large marine habitat and the increasing number of microplastics, this study can provide useful information for further research and management decisions to understand the potential effects on marine life in the persian gulf.