10.18453/rosdok_id00000264 Stolte, Andrea Andrea Stolte Universität Rostock 2015 620 Engineering & allied operations 2015 de https://purl.uni-rostock.de/rosdok/id00000264 urn:nbn:de:gbv:28-thesis2015-0001-3 The spatial and temporal variations of microplastic concentrations in beach sediments at the German Baltic coast are investigated. A total of 11 locations were sampled in the Rostock area, on Ruegen island, in the Oder / Peene estuary, and in the North Sea Jade Bay. Microplastic particle and fibre concentrations were in the range 0-11 coloured pieces/kg sediment, with typical numbers of 1-3 particles/kg. Industrial and urban river discharge, fishing activity, and tourism are identified as the most likely sources for the observed microplastic contaminations.