Microplastics in the Gulf of Trieste

Contamination of marine enviroment with plastics and consequently microplastics is nowadays an emerging problem. The quantity of plastic materials in marine environment is increasing every year. They contain different additives which can be harmful to marine organisms after their release from the polymeric material. Moreover, plastic particles, floating on sea surface or settled to the sea bottom represent important surfaces for the adsorption of different pollutants from the seawater and/or sediments. After the ingestion of these particles, the pollutants are released from the particles and accumulated in the organisms, where they can cause severe effects to their health. Researchers from NIB Mateja Grego and Oliver Bajt raised the awareness of plastic pollution and explained their research outcomes for the italian television RAI.