# Microplastic Pollution on the Beaches of the Black Sea in Romania and Bulgaria
## 5 Conclusions  
On the beaches of Romania, the average concentration of microplastics ranged between 40 and 213 particles per sample (470 and 2500 microplastic particles/kg). On the beaches of Bulgaria, the concentrations were higher in certain areas, such as BG14 and BG15, reaching values of up to 137 particles per sample (1612 microplastic particles/kg). In both countries, microplastic concentrations tended to be higher in more touristy and heavily frequented areas, indicating a link between human activities and the accumulation of microplastics.  
FT-IR and DSC analysis revealed the predominant presence of polyethylene (PE) (55%), followed by polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyurethane (PU). This reflects the widespread use of these plastic materials in packaging, textiles, and industrial products. Correlating microscopic images with FT-IR and DSC spectra confirmed the plastic nature of the analyzed particles, highlighting the structures and chemical groups specific to each type of material.  
The significant presence found of microplastics in beach sand highlights the risks to marine and coastal ecosystems, having potential negative effects on fauna and flora. Beyond these findings, this study emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated environmental policies aimed at reducing the plastic waste input into coastal areas. Authorities should consider implementing stricter waste management protocols in touristic regions, increasing public awareness campaigns, and promoting alternatives to single-use plastics. Regular monitoring and cleanup efforts, especially in high-risk zones, could significantly mitigate the environmental impacts. Additionally, future research should explore the long-term ecological consequences of microplastic exposure for marine organisms in the Black Sea region, as well as potential human health implications related to seafood consumption.  
The following supporting information can be downloaded at [[https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15094751/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15094751/s1)]([https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15094751/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15094751/s1)): Table S1: Filtering results and average distribution of microplastic contamination on beaches in Romania per sample and per kilogram of sand; Table S2: Filtering results and average distribution of microplastic contamination on beaches in Bulgaria per sample and per kilogram of sand.  
Conceptualization, M.G. and D.T.; methodology, M.P.; software, G.-A.D.; validation, S.V., M.-T.C. and G.I.R.; formal analysis, M.-T.C.; investigation, G.I.R.; resources, S.V.; data curation, A.-M.P.; writing--original draft preparation, M.G.; writing--review and editing, G.-A.D.; visualization, A.-M.P.; supervision, D.T.; project administration, M.G.; funding acquisition, M.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research received no external funding.  
Not applicable.  
The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.  
We appreciate the excellent collaboration among all the universities involved in this research, which has been key to the success of our project. We sincerely value the effort and dedication demonstrated by all parties. We are grateful for the materials provided for the experiments and to the students for their assistance with the sampling and preliminary analysis.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.