The Problem of Micro and Nanoplastics in the Coastal Areas

Abstract

Micro and nanoplastics comprise a class of emerging contaminants in marine environments that are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters. They originate from primary sources, such as microbeads from some cosmetics, but also from secondary sources by degradation of larger plastics. Their improper disposal, together with increased production, make their presence more pronounced, ultimately posing risks to both the ecosystem and human health. The aim of this article is to assess the presence and effects of micro and nanoplastics in Portonovo, one of the tourist destinations in Galicia, Spain. There are no direct studies conducted on the area of Portonovo; however, findings from nearby regions portray high contamination levels, as seen from the studies undertaken directly in areas such as Pontevedra and Galicia. It has consequences on marine life, human health, and the local economy, hence requiring further research and the introduction of sustainable practices to mitigate this pollution. The study calls for imperative, focused investigations in Portonovo to help in policy-making and protective measures so that marine environments and public health can be preserved.

To reference this paper: 

Ali, M., 2024. The problem of micro and nanoplastics in the coastal areas: The case of Portonovo, Galicia. In Towards Circular: Analysis of the coastal areas of Greece, Italy and Spain. Edited by Skupchenko, J.K. Think Tank AlterContacts. Available at: https://www.altercontacts.org/publications/towards-circular-2024/es-sd-3

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31527.97444

Introduction

Micro and nanoplastics are plastic particles with a size less than five millimeters (Yin et al., 2020). Micro and nanoplastics can be classified as primary and secondary plastics based on their source and how they were initially formed (Andrady, 2017; Hasan Anik et al., 2021). Primary microplastics are particles that were formed in their small size (Andrady, 2017). For example, microbeads are microplastics that were manufactured in their small size to be used in cosmetics and as industrial abrasives (Andrady, 2017). On the other hand, secondary microplastics are small particles that were parts of larger plastic and were then exposed to physical, chemical, or biological fragmentation processes (Andrady, 2017; Hasan Anik et al., 2021). 

Previous research suggested that the harm that micro and nanoplastics would create on human health and the ecosystem balance is expected to increase (Allen et al., 2022). This was proposed to be due to increased plastics production, the adoption of a no-circular economy, and consumers’ dependence on single-use plastics (Allen et al., 2022). Due to the possible harm of micro and nanoplastics, the concerns about this form of contamination in marine environments are increasing, and more investigations are being done globally (Yin et al., 2020).

Micro and nanoplastics can be found all around the world along beaches, both in urban and rural areas (Yin et al., 2020). For example, micro and nanoplastics in the Mediterranean coastal regions were detected on the water surface (Llorca et al., 2020). Additionally, they were found in fish and seafood consumed by humans (Llorca et al., 2020). Other research studies found this type of pollution in different coastal areas of the world (Liu et al., 2021; Llorca et al., 2020; Lusher et al., 2015; Yakushev et al., 2021).

Impact of micro and nanoplastics contamination

Marine contamination with micro and nanoplastics may affect the environment, the economy, and the health of human beings (Blackburn & Green, 2022; Horton et al., 2017; Thacharodi, Meenatchi, et al., 2024). Although research in this regard is still in its developing stages, it was observed that ingestion of micro and nanoplastics can cause diverse damage to organisms (Blackburn & Green, 2022). These small particles can cause direct physical abrasion, which may be linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell toxicity (Blackburn & Green, 2022). It is considered that the releasing additives or adsorbed chemicals from micro and nanoplastics are responsible for the reproductive and developmental effects or immunogenic responses (Blackburn & Green, 2022).

Impact on the Marine Environment 

First, micro and nanoplastics have been postulated to pose a significant risk to marine life since a large variety of marine organisms can easily ingest them (Lee et al., 2023; Lei et al., 2018; Marcharla et al., 2024). They are ingested by the intake of prey that is contaminated with plastics (Marcharla et al., 2024). Similarly, micro and nanoplastics contamination can physically impact the habitats of these organisms, more so those that are aquatic by nature (Horton et al., 2017). When micro and nano plastics collect along the shores, accumulation occurs, which changes the makeup of the sediments, impacting the available nutrients and hence changing the interrelation of the various species living in their habitat (Horton et al., 2017). Marcharla et al. (2024, p.9) posited that the microparticles are first taken in by zooplankton, followed by the concentration of the particles in their tissue, and are later taken by larger marine animals, which consume zooplanktons that are contaminated by these plastic particles

Impact on Human Health

Micro and nanoplastics enter the human body through many pathways, including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact (Prata et al., 2020). Therefore, humans' primary exposure routes to micro and nanoplastics relate to the ingestion of seafood or the drinking of contaminated water. Some toxic chemicals leach out from these particles into the food chain, and when ingested by humans, they lead to the development of diseases like some types of cancer (Yuan et al., 2022).

Research Goal

Portonovo is a village located in Spain. It is one of the villages in the municipality of Sanxenxo, in the region of Galicia. Sanxenxo is a coastal destination in Pontevedra and is considered the main tourist destination in the region of Galicia (Lois-González & Patiño-Romarís, 2020). Overtourism is a common issue during summer in Sanxenxo. Tourism in the municipality of Sanxenxo is the main generator of the majority of the local Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and direct local employment. The number of residents in Sanxenxo is multiplied by 7.5 times during the summer season (Lois-González & Patiño-Romarís, 2020). The large number of tourists in Portonovo can be one of the main factors for micro and nanoplastics contamination of its marine environment. A study conducted in the Bay of Cadiz, Spain, showed that the increase in population derived from tourism in the summer period affect negatively the environment and increases the release of micropollutants like micro and nanoplastics into the marine ecosystems (Franco et al., 2023). 

The primary objective of this article is to examine the presence and distribution of microplastics and nanoplastics in Portonovo. The aim is to focus on Portonovo, as a gap was detected in the literature regarding whether the problem of micro and nanoplastics contamination is present there. Gaining knowledge about the situation in Portonovo is important for developing strategies that can protect marine environments and the health of residents and tourists by lowering the negative impact of micro and nanoplastics contamination on human beings and marine organisms. 

Methodology

The goal of this literature review was to explore whether micro and nanoplastics contamination exists in Portonovo, Spain. The research was conducted between May and July 2024. Scopus was used for this review because its database includes peer-reviewed literature from most scientific fields, ensuring that the search is credible.

Keywords

A literature review was conducted, and keywords to be included in searches through databases were identified to ensure coverage of the geographical area of interest and the specific contaminants. These were: Portonovo; Pontevedra; Ria de Pontevedra; Pontevedra River; Sanxenxo; Galicia; Nanoplastic; Microplastic.

Search Strategy

The search strategy involved using the Scopus database to search for the identified keywords within the title, abstract, and keywords of peer-reviewed articles. The review began by searching for articles that contained "Portonovo" with either "microplastic" or "nanoplastic." Not any of these searches yielded results; hence, there are no direct studies focusing on Portonovo regarding micro and nanoplastics contaminants. This was followed by expanding the search and adding "Pontevedra" and "Galicia." This step was taken to identify studies that might not have referred to Portonovo specifically but have investigated the larger geographical area, which includes Portonovo.

Articles Screening

Screening was carried out for the identified articles. The abstracts of articles were read to check for the relevance of the articles to the topic of micro and nanoplastics contamination. The selection of articles was made according to the presence of contamination, geographical region of data, or results associated with the region of Portonovo or surrounding areas like Pontevedra and Galicia. Articles that passed the abstract screening were further assessed by reading the full text. Full-text reading aimed to ensure the existence of concrete information relating to micro and nanoplastics contamination in the region under consideration. 

Literature Review

Portonovo is a village in Sanxenxo, situated in the Ria de Pontevedra, an area of high population density and high industrial activity (Pérez-Fernández et al., 2020). In 2020, Ecologists in Action issued an analysis related to the Spanish coastline, analyzing sources of contamination and situations of bad environmental management (Martín-Lara et al., 2021). One of the significant factors that emerged from this analysis was industrial pollution and activities relating to marine port fillings as the major causes of pollution and mismanagement in the environment in Pontevedra (Martín-Lara et al., 2021). 

Between December 2023 and the end of January 2024, plastic pellets, a type of pre-production plastic known as nurdles, significantly contaminated the beaches along the Galician coastline in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula as a consequence of their spill from the vessel Toconao (Vidal-Abad et al., 2024). While efforts were made to eradicate the pollutants, attaining complete eradication remained unsuccessful (Vidal-Abad et al., 2024). This incident demonstrated how persistent and complex plastic pollution at sea can be. In regard to this, despite clean-up efforts, the incomplete removal of plastic pollution sounded an alarm for the continuous threats it poses to marine biodiversity and the ecosystem from plastic pollution (Thushari & Senevirathna, 2020). Moreover, micro and nanoplastics contamination can harm the economy through the burden incurred from cleanup expenses and the damage it does to various sectors, such as fishing and tourism (Thacharodi, Meenatchi et al., 2024). 

Another study from the province of Pontevedra on micro and nanoplastics pollution within river ecosystems in this very same province established the presence of microplastics within the study area (Gutiérrez-Rial et al., 2024). The sediments used in sample points, including water, reported the existence of microplastics in all of them. One of the key findings of this study was that the leading cause of micro and nanoplastics in water was due to urbanization (Gutiérrez-Rial et al., 2024). In contrast, in the case of sediment samples, the density of the population had a significant contribution within the catchment area (Gutiérrez-Rial et al., 2024). 

The literature review showed a case of serious environmental problems associated with micro and nanoplastics pollution within the Pontevedra area, likely affecting the area extension to Portonovo and the surrounding area. Alongside urbanization, industrial activities and marine port operations have primarily been observed as the major contributors to pollution and mismanagement of the coastal environment in parts of Pontevedra (Gutiérrez-Rial et al., 2024; Martín-Lara et al., 2021). A serious realization, according to such literature, exists for putting into place sustainable solutions and the need to adopt sustainable practices that would limit the impact of industrialization and urbanization on the marine ecosystem. Such solutions and implemented initiatives need to take a focal point on reducing production and use, improving waste management and cleaning practices, and raising environmental stewardship among the industries and local communities (Fiore et al., 2022; Thacharodi, Hassan, et al., 2024).

Agenda for Future Research

Recommendations and future research were proposed regarding the findings of the literature review. This literature review started by identifying peer-reviewed articles focusing on Portonovo. Not having found any relevant articles, the research strategy was broadened: it was decided to identify articles investigating micro and nanoplastic contamination in broader regions, such as Pontevedra and Galicia. This approach is still quite wide and cannot fully represent the situation and contamination levels of Portonovo.

The results of the review shed light on the necessity of conducting research aimed at understanding micro and nanoplastics contamination in Portonovo. Knowing their sources will help in adequately protecting the environment and human health and designing lower levels of contamination. It would also be recommended that the health consequences of micro and nanoplastic contamination among population groups, such as fishermen and coastal inhabitants of Portonovo, be further investigated. This would form a basis for evidence-based policy formulation and implementation of interventions that would reduce the impact of the contamination in Portonovo and other coastal communities. As well as quantitative research quantifying the levels of micro and nanoplastics contamination in Portonovo, qualitative research could be made to determine the response rate or awareness of the local fishermen and the residents in Portonovo regarding the risks of micro and nanoplastics and the harm they create on the environment and the human health. 

Conclusion 

The industrial activity combined with urbanization and tourism in Portononvo, a village in the Pontevedra province, increases the risk of micro and nanoplastics contamination of the marine environments. From the literature review, it has been established that micro and nanoplastics, apart from physically endangering the life of organisms in the aquatic environment through ingestion and habitat alteration, may cause economic burdens and health risks to the human population dependent on marine resources. 

The persistence of these pollutants within the marine ecosystem underlines well their complexity and challenges to eradicate them completely, which has been put into evidence since the nurdle spill along the Galician coastline. This article has highlighted the problem of micro and nanoplastic contamination, with a focus on coastal and marine environments. An emphasis on Portonovo, Spain, has shown very few studies aiming directly at micro and nanoplastics in this area; however, evidence from broader regional studies points out the high level of contamination within similar environments.

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