Study of Contaminants Carried by Microplastics in the Lebanese Marine Environment

The study conducted on the Lebanese Mediterranean coast revealed that microplastics, primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene, acted as carriers for various organic and inorganic contaminants. These included legacy pesticides like DDT and chlorpyrifos, personal care products, pharmaceuticals such as minoxidil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners. The research utilized advanced techniques like FTIR, LC-MS/MS, and GC-MS to analyze the pollutants, highlighting the environmental and health threats posed by microplastics. The study emphasized the need for comprehensive analysis of pollutants and suggested future green methodologies to minimize organic solvent use in sample preparation.