Microplastics in Beaches of the East Frisian Islands Spiekeroog and Kachelotplate

Microplastic particles were quantified in beach transects of the East Frisian islands Spiekeroog and Kachelotplate and in two samples from a tidal flat. Both granules and fibres were present while fragments and polystyrene pellets were completely absent. On the Kachelotplate the highest number of granules (496/10 g sediment) was observed at the high water line while on Spiekeroog a sample from the dune area had the highest value (38/10 g sediment). The tidal flat samples hat 36 and 136 granules/10 g sediment with the higher number being associated with a blue mussel bank. Fibres were more homogeneously distributed and did not show any particular enrichment. In comparison with data from the Belgian coast the total numbers are higher which might be related to the exposure situation of the island beaches.