Microplastic pollution on the Persian Gulf shoreline: A case study of Bandar Abbas city, Hormozgan Province, Iran

Microplastic particles (< 5 mm), which are an emerging threat, are commonly found in marine ecosystems worldwide. This study investigated the effect of different types of coastal land use on microplastic frequency and distribution on the coastline of Bandar Abbas city; this study used a large sample compared to that used in other studies conducted in this region. The average number of microplastics was determined as 3252 +/- 2766 microplastics/m(2) (+/- SD). ATR FT-IR spectroscopy showed that the dominant microplastic particles are expanded polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in microplastic contamination levels between the urban and nonuse beaches. This shows that heavily urbanized areas and human activities have significant effects on the dispersion and frequency of microplastics in the coastal areas of Bandar Abbas. Periodical coast-based cleanup and studies on microplastic pollution and their fluxes by comprehensive sampling are mostly recommended for the Persian Gulf coastline.