From source to sink: part 1—characterization and Lagrangian tracking of riverine microplastics in the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most critically polluted areas due to its semi-enclosed structure and its highly anthropized shoreline. Rivers are significant vectors for pollutant transfers from the continental to the marine environment. In this context, a 3D Lagrangian simulation of the dispersion of riverine microplastics (MPs) was performed, which included the application of a recently developed model that reassessed the MP fluxes discharged by rivers. MP physical properties from river samples were further investigated to approximate vertical displacement in modeled ocean currents. The use of a high-resolution circulation model, integrating Stokes drift, turbulent diffusion, and MP sinking and rising velocities, enabled us to establish stock balances. Our simulation suggested that 65% of river inputs may be made of floating MPs drifting in the surface layer and 35% of dense MPs sinking to deeper layers. The Eastern Mediterranean tends to accumulate floating MPs, primarily originating from the Western Mediterranean Basin, where major river sources are concentrated. After 2 years of simulation, modeled stranding sequestered 90% of the MP inputs, indicating relatively short average residence times from a few days to months at most for particles at sea. Although spatial distribution patterns stabilized after this period and a steady state may have been approached, the surface concentrations we modeled generally remained below field observations. This suggested either an underestimation of sources (rivers and unaccounted sources), by a factor of 6 at most, or an overestimation of MP withdrawal through stranding, to be reduced from 90 to around 60% or less if unaccounted sinks were considered. Graphical abstract