Microplastic-sorbed persistent organic pollutants in coastal Mediterranean Sea areas of Tunisia
Badreddine Barhoumi, Marc Métian, Hatem Zaghden, Abdelkader Derouiche, Walid Ben Ameur, Sihem Ben Hassine, François Oberhaënsli, Janeth Mora, Nikolaos Mourgkogiannis, Abdulla Al-Rawabdeh, Lassaad Chouba, Carlos Alonso‐Hernández, Hrissi K. Karapanagioti, Mohamed Ridha Driss, Ahmed Mliki, Soufiane Touil
Abstract
in the pellets and fragments, respectively. Our findings indicate that MPs found on the Tunisian coast may pose a chemical risk to marine organisms as the concentrations of PCBs and γ-HCH in most of the analysed samples exceeded the sediment-quality guidelines (SQG), especially the effects range medium (ERM) and the probable effects level (PEL). As the first report of its kind, the information gathered in this study can serve as the baseline and starting point for future monitoring work for Tunisia and neighbouring countries, as well as for stakeholders and coastal managers in decision-making processes.