We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
From source to mouth: an integrated assessment of microplastics in the Sinos River, Southern Brazil, using SEM-EDS analysis and atmospheric modeling
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) throughout Brazil's Sinos River—even at its remote source, far from cities—suggesting these pollutants can travel through the air and settle in places you'd least expect. This matters because this river is a source of drinking water for nearby communities, and since microplastics can carry harmful chemicals and have been linked to health risks in animals, their unexpected presence even in "pristine" water sources means our exposure to these particles may be more widespread than we realize.
Plastic waste is one of the main causes of the deterioration of freshwater ecosystems. Once in the environment, microplastics (MPs) have harmful effects on living organisms and pose risks to human health. This study used an integrated approach to assess the presence of microplastics in surface water and sediment samples from three sites along the Sinos River in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) were employed for characterization, and a Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was proposed to understand atmospheric influences. Microplastics were found in all samples and sites, including the river's source. Fibers were predominant, and particle sizes ranged from 67 µm to 4.2 mm. A total of 109 particles were recovered from the water samples (12±4 L-1 particles), and 21 from the sediment samples (2±2 100 g-1 particles). SEM analysis revealed surface cracking, and EDS confirmed the prevalence of carbon and oxygen in the particles. Based on the atmospheric model, the trajectories of air masses prior to sampling at the highest site demonstrate that MPs can be transported from other locations. Our study reports microplastic contamination in Caraá for the first time, provides insights for future studies on the atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in countryside regions, and highlights the urgent need to include these pollutants in environmental quality assessments of this important hydrographic basin.
More Papers Like This
Assessing microplastics pollution in the atmosphere and riverine system in the Pyrenees
AI summary Read the abstract
This study measured airborne microplastics deposited in the Pyrenees mountains — a remote area far from major urban sources — finding significant contamination in both air deposition and river sediments. The results confirm that microplastics are transported long distances by wind and deposited even in pristine mountain environments. Rivers then act as conduits that transport these atmospherically deposited microplastics toward the ocean.
Microplastic Contamination in Water Bodies: Sources, Fate, and Ecological Impacts in Native Rivers
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic bits are ending up in rivers, even remote ones far from cities, coming from trash breakdown, wastewater, and even air. This review of existing research shows these particles can harm river life by physically injuring them and releasing or carrying harmful chemicals, which matters because these same waterways often feed into our drinking water and food supply. Scientists still need better tools to measure the problem and stronger policies to stop plastic pollution at its source.
Microplastics in water from the confluence of tropical rivers: Overall review and a case study in Paraiba do Sul River basin
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination at river confluences in the Paraiba do Sul River basin, Brazil's most important southeastern watershed serving millions of people. They found microplastics throughout the river system, with higher concentrations near industrial and densely populated areas. Since this river basin supplies drinking water and supports agriculture for a large population, the contamination raises direct concerns about human microplastic exposure.
Source-specific Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Urban Rivers of Surakarta, Indonesia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers traced tiny plastic particles (microplastics) found in urban rivers in Surakarta, Indonesia back to their likely sources, like trash, textiles, and personal care products. This matters because these rivers can be sources of drinking water and food (like fish), meaning the plastic pollution could eventually make its way into our bodies, understanding where it comes from is the first step to stopping it at the source.
Longitudinal gradients modulate the distribution, composition, and ecological risk of microplastics in a neotropical public water supply reservoir
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) throughout a Brazilian reservoir that supplies drinking water to nearby communities, with plastic accumulating in different ways depending on location, floating plastic bits concentrated near the dam, while degraded plastic fragments built up in the sediment downstream, reaching levels considered a "very high risk" to the ecosystem. While this study focused on environmental risk rather than direct human health effects, it's a reminder that the water systems we rely on for drinking water are acting as both pathways and collection points for plastic pollution, which could eventually work its way into the food chain and our water
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.