RT journal article
T1 Fresh Versus Beach Users’ Deposited Litter in El Puerto De Santa Maria (Cádiz, SW Spain)
A1 Ciufegni, E.
A1 Asensio-Montesinos, F.
A1 Caslte, C. R.
A1 Anfuso Melfi, Giorgio
A2 Ciencias de la Tierra
K1 Andalusia
K1 Atlantic Ocean
K1 beachgoers
K1 coastal pollution
K1 plastic
K1 3S tourism
AB This study is based on a 10-day survey carried out at seven beaches in March2023 in El Puerto de Santa María municipality (SW Spain). An amount of 5592 items werecollected, with a combined weight of 26 kg. Fresh litter, which refers to litter transportedto the shore by marine/coastal processes, accounted for 4634 items weighing 23 kg. Theremaining 958 items, weighing 3 kg, were identified as litter deposited by beach visitors.The average total litter recorded during the sampling was 0.40 ± 0.07 items m−1 witha density of 1.85 ± 0.69 g m−1. Litter materials were relatively consistent regardless ofwhether they were stranded by marine processes or discharged by beachgoers. Plasticdominates fresh and deposited litter followed by metal and glass, with minimal contributionsof chemicals, organic matter, clothing, rubber, wood, and paper. They were identified115 items’ categories from the 184 listed in the EU Joint List: 107 for fresh and 75 fordeposited litter. Food consumption-related items made up a significant portion of thetotal debris followed by personal hygiene and care-related and smoking-related litter. Theobtained information is very useful to propose sound management actions that have to beespecially devoted to raise beach users’ responsibility. Last, in order to have a year-roundview of litter characteristics and behavior, further investigations should be carried outduring winter, when the number of visitors is very low and waves’ energy is high, andsummer, when opposite conditions are recorded.
PB MDPI
SN 2077-1312
YR 2025
FD 2025-01-30
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/36860
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/36860
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 10-may-2026