Detection and Characterization of Micro- and Nanoplastic Pollutants: A Case Study of the Adriatic Sea

This study investigates the detection of microplastic in the Adriatic Sea, considering various plastic waste-generating activities from neighboring countries as a source of pollution. Seven water samples were collected from three locations around the Venice Lagoon in Italy and four around the island of Krk in Croatia. Microplastics, categorised as fibres, films, and fragments, were quantified, and their features (dimensions, colour) were analysed via optical microscopy. The mean size, undersize (D10, D50, and D90), and concentration of nanoparticles were also estimated using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. The Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) also scutinized the presence of certain heavy metals in the water bodies after the digestion step. This scientific investigation reveals the highest concentrations of microplastics and nanoparticles in the Canal Grande at the city centre near the Rialto Bridge, one of the most iconic and massively visited locations in Venice. Finally, the levels of heavy metals in the seawater were below the detection limit of FAAS. This study paves the way for assessing the impact of these pollutants on aquatic ecosystems and on human health.