Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
Monitoring of meso and microplastic debris in Playa Grande beach (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) during a moon
María González-Hernández1, Cintia Hernández-Sánchez2, Javier González-Sálamo3
1Departamento de Química, Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL). Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, s/n°. 38206, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
Abstract:
The occurrence and composition of meso (5-25 mm) and microplastics (1-5 mm) in Playa Grande beach (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) was monitored during a complete moon cycle on the different moon phases between 17th June and 16thJuly 2019. A total of 10 points were sampled each day finding an average content of mesoplastics of 18 g/m2 (0.36 g/L) and of microplastics of 13 g/m2 (1277 items/m2 or 1.6 g/L). Polypropylene and polyethylene accounted for 19% and 76% of the total, respectively. Tar was also found in the 1-5 mm fraction (2% of the total). Among the particles found, 83% were fragments, 11% pellets, 4% fibres and 2% films. The obtained results revealed that microplastic presence could not be related in this case with the tides but with the orientation and strength/speed of the wind.
