الفهرس 
LITERATURE REVIEWOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Accumulation of ML in water bodies has recently become one of the most
prominent global problems affecting the good environmental status (GES)
of the seas and oceans. The pollution of ML in coastal areas resulted mainly
from unsustainable anthropogenic activities, increasing population growth,
irrational development, illegal practices, and the improper management of
solid waste. ML could pose several environmental, economic, and social
risks that severely impact ecosystems, marine biodiversity, human health,
and economic development. In addition to the threats of the micro-plastic
litter to marine wildlife due to its dangers and difficulty to monitor and
manage. Vulnerable locations along the Egyptian Northern coastal and
marine areas are seriously affected by the abundance and accumulation of
ML that could affect their economic and recreational values. However, the
absence of accurate, comparable scientific data on ML quantity and trends
at national, and regional levels is still the main management challenge.
This study focused on examining and verifying a scientific-based
methodology for monitoring, and assessment of ML accumulation, fate,
and trajectory. El-Shatby Beach in Alexandria Governorate was selected
as a pilot case study along the Egyptian Northern coastal areas. The applied
methodology could be summarized as follows: 1- Field monitoring of the
accumulation of macro-litter (greater than 2.5 cm), assessment of ML
types, quantities, top five items, and the main ML sources. 2- Identification
of ML potential trajectory under the influence of wind, and surface currents
in El-Shatby beach. 3- Monitoring the presence of plastic ML on the beach
and floating at the sea surface using the RS technique. 4- Tracking the
pathways, and fate of floating ML at the sea surface under the influence of
different movers using trajectory modeling (GNOME model). 5- Analysis
of the main socio-economic drivers of ML accumulation using the DPSIR
Framework. 6- Identifying the main points of strength and weakness for
minimizing ML negative impacts using SWOT analysis.
Six main chapters were included in this study, chapter one gave a general
background of the ML pollution, problem statement, study objectives,
study approach, thesis structure, and the time frame. The chapter ended
with describing the contents of each chapter in the thesis. Chapter two
contained a review of the relevant literature and previous studies including
ML definition, sources, and materials of ML, fate, distribution of ML,
adverse impacts of ML on living organisms, environment, human health,
and economy. The chapter included also recently applied methodologies
for monitoring and tracking of ML using remote sensing techniques and
mathematical models. The chapter ended with concluding remarks of the
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previous research that support the methodology of this study. Chapter
Three gave a described of the study area including the geographical
location of Alexandria Governorate and El-Shatby Beach, administrative
division, marine habitats and biodiversity, the main economic activities in
the study area, solid waste in Alexandria Governorate, laws and
international conventions related to ML reduction, monitoring, and
management. The chapter ends with presenting key, primary, and
secondary stakeholders that have significant influence in minimizing ML
in Alexandria Governorate and proper management of solid waste. Chapter
Four contained a description of the applied methodology in this study
including fieldwork surveys of beach macro-litter, remote sensing different
techniques used monitoring of plastic ML at the sea surface and on the
beach, and trajectory model GNOME for tracking ML paths and
movement. The chapter ended by addressing the assessment approach of
DPSIR framework and SWOT analysis. Chapter Five contained the results
and discussions of the study including results of fieldwork analysis, RS
techniques, GNOME trajectory model. The chapter ended with the results
of SWOT analysis, DPSIR framework that support the development of
policies to reduce its accumulation, and a discussion of these results from
a scientific point of view. Chapter six included the main conclusion, and
suggested recommendations of the study. The thesis ended with a list of
references that were used to conduct the research, then a summary in
Arabic language.
Field surveys showed artificial polymers were the maximum (72%),
worked wood (2%) was the minimum, while glass/ceramics counted as
zero. Reinforcing rocks located at the left side of the study area, the
vegetation strips distributed along the coastline, and rocks located at the
backside close to El-corniche are traps for discarded litter and fishing nets.
The overall accuracy of plastic identification using remote sensing
techniques reached about 70-80% which proves the potential of using this
methodology for the detection of discriminated plastic litter along the
Egyptian Northern coastal areas under specific climatic conditions.
Locations identified by GNOME model that have a great potential for litter
accumulation were the public and private beaches adjacent to El-Shatby
beach, basins of Western and Eastern harbors, and Abu-Qir bay. The
backward simulation showed that litter could be transported to El-Shatby
from a distance that could reach 107 km. The results of this study could be
considered an important tool to support decision-makers in improving the
collection, clean-up, safe disposal, and management practices of ML.