PLASTIC PELLETS ON THE COAST OF LEBANON

The occurrence of plastic pellets along the coast of Lebanon is being reported for the first time. Although a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes was observed, most pellets seemed to be either an opaque-white or transparentamber colour, cylindrical to oval or round, and 2-5 mm in diameter. A random sampling was taken and the results of thermal analysis showed the pellets to be of either high density polyethylene (opaque-white pellets), polymethyl methacrylate (transparent), or polystyrene (amber). The presence of these pellets is most likely due to waste disposal by the numerous plastics 'factories' in the country, or possibly, cargo-loss during sea transport of raw plastics materials. © 1979.