Deposition of microplastics in the sea of azov: a critical data analysis in the context of the marginal filter concept
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4363
Abstract
This study investigated the accumulation of microplastics (MP) in the bottom sediments of the Sea of Azov and developed a detection method using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC-MS). Relationships between polymer concentration, sediment granulometric composition, depth of occurrence, hydrochemical parameters, and the distribution of benthic organisms were analyzed. Analysis of 20 samples revealed an average MP concentration of ~62 μg/g, with a maximum of 196 μg/g. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was the dominant polymer, reflecting its extensive use in regional industry. Correlation patterns were identified as inflection points on graphs of MP content and salinity versus sediment granulometric composition and depth. These points correspond to sampling stations near the western boundary of the Don River estuary (the Taganrog Bay area near Dolgaya Spit) and in the discharge zone of the Kuban River flow. It was established that the primary accumulation of MP occurs near anthropogenic sources (Taganrog, Berdyansk) and on the periphery of the Don and Kuban deltas in clay silts and sands. The estuarine sections of the rivers act as a natural barrier, facilitating MP deposition through coagulation with suspended organic particles. At the same time, no influence on fundamental ecological patterns was detected, with the relationships remaining within the logarithmic dependencies of benthic biomass on abundance.
The obtained data provide a basis for standardizing MP assessment methods and for further research with a detailed station grid covering various sediment types and benthic habitat conditions.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: The publication was financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement No. 075-15-2024-528 of 24.04.2024 on the implementation of a large-scale research project within the priority areas of scientific and technological development) on the equipment of the CKP SSC-RAS.
About the Authors
Yuri I. Yurasov
Federal State Budget Institution of Science ‘Federal Research Centre The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (SSC RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006
Marina A. Antsiferova
Federal State Budget Institution of Science ‘Federal Research Centre The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (SSC RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006
Mikhail I. Tolstunov
Federal State Budget Institution of Science ‘Federal Research Centre The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (SSC RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006
Aleksey V. Kleshchenkov
Federal State Budget Institution of Science ‘Federal Research Centre The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (SSC RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006
Andrey I. Savikin
Federal State Budget Institution of Science ‘Federal Research Centre The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (SSC RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006
Ekaterina A. Podoprigora
Federal State Budget Institution of Science ‘Federal Research Centre The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ (SSC RAS)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006
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Review
For citations:
Yurasov Yu.I., Antsiferova M.A., Tolstunov M.I., Kleshchenkov A.V., Savikin A.I., Podoprigora E.A. Deposition of microplastics in the sea of azov: a critical data analysis in the context of the marginal filter concept. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2026;19(3):152-164. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4363
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