Microplastic detection and Lagrangian modelling in the Tyrrhenian Sea

In recent years the presence of microplastic (MP) in oceans is getting more and more attention due to its impacts on these environments. A major concern is represented by closed and densely populated basins, like the Mediterranean Sea. In this work, an assessment of MP concentrations in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a sub-basin of the Mediterranean Sea, is performed by means of numerical simulations. A Lagrangian stochastic model of dispersion, which requires hydrodynamic fields and MP sources as inputs, is employed. The hydrodynamic fields are supplied by the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), while the MP sources are estimated by means of a novel method based on the population density. The results agree well with field data derived from Goletta Verde sampling campaign and highlight the importance of a correct estimation of the sources. Both the numerical results and field data show the presence of high polluted areas.