The Role of Posidonia oceanica Spheroids in Assessing Microplastic Contamination in Coastal Ecosystems

Abstract

Plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments, has become a major global concern; therefore, monitoring and controlling these contaminants is essential to safeguard ecosystem integrity and human health. This study evaluates the ability of Posidonia oceanica spheroids to incorporate and retain plastic debris, with a particular focus on microplastics (MPs). A total of 1300 spheroids were collected along the Latium coast (Central Italy); among these, 454 (34.9%) contained plastic debris, with an average of 3.1 items per spheroid. Overall, 1415 plastic items were extracted and identified. Based on size classification, 48.7% were microplastics, 29.6% mesoplastics, and 21.9% macroplastics. Plastic items mainly consisted of filaments (40.9 ± 12.6%) and fibers (21.5 ± 5.2%). Eleven different colors were recorded, with white (28.8 ± 9.1%), transparent (13.4 ± 6.0%), and black (11.1 ± 6.8%) being the most frequent. A strong correlation was observed between the number of plastic items contained in the spheroids and proximity to wastewater treatment plants, which are known sources of synthetic fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified a total of 15 polymer materials, with nylon (18.2 ± 11.0%) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET; 17.3 ± 7.2%) being the most abundant. Structural alterations observed in FTIR spectra, together with carbonyl index values, indicate that most MPs are of secondary origin, resulting from prolonged environmental degradation. These results demonstrate that P. oceanica spheroids effectively promote plastic trapping and highlight their potential as a simple and cost-effective monitoring tool for marine plastic pollution.