Plastic pellets on Spain's ‘Costa del Sol’ beaches

Plastic pellets, ranging in diameter from 2.7 to 4.5 mm, were collected from thirteen beaches on the Costa del Sol of Spain (Algeciras to Almeria). Although the pellets were common on most beaches surveyed, they were abundant on only four. Eighty-seven per cent of those collected were made of low density polyethylene (opaque, cream-yellow, and amber pellets), 8% were of high density polyethylene (solid white button-like pellets and orange-red conical pieces), and 4% were of ethylvinyl acetate (clear to translucent pellets). The absence of ‘crazing’ and encrusting biota on the pellets suggests their recent introduction to this marine environment.