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Interaction between microplastics and physicochemical properties of sediment: A multi-ecosystem analysis in a protected area of the Colombian Caribbean
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Scientists studying a protected wildlife sanctuary on Colombia's Caribbean coast found tiny plastic fragments—mostly clothing fibers and food packaging particles smaller than a millimeter—scattered across beaches, forests, mangroves, and marine sediments, with the highest levels showing up surprisingly in dry forest soil rather than the ocean. This matters because these microplastics can work their way into the food chain through fish, shellfish, and other wildlife that humans eventually eat, meaning pollution from everyday items like clothes and plastic bottles doesn't just stay in the water—it spreads into
The Los Flamencos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (SFF Los Flamencos), located on the Colombian Caribbean coast (La Guajira), comprises five connected ecosystems exposed to anthropogenic pressures, including tourism, wastewater discharge, artisanal fishing, and inadequate waste management. This study presents the first multi-ecosystem assessment of microplastic (MP) contamination in sediments along a land-sea gradient within a protected area of the Colombian Caribbean. Thirty sediment samples were collected during the dry season across marine, beach, dry forest, mangrove, and lagoon ecosystems. MP abundance ranged from 241.58 ± 27.41 MPs·kg in marine sediments to 447.91 ± 18.01 MPs·kg in dry forest sediments, following the gradient: dry forest > beach (303.03 ± 18.93 MPs·kg) > mangrove (290.81 ± 21.09 MPs·kg) > lagoon (279.10 ± 60.11 MPs·kg) > marine. Dry forest sediments showed significantly higher MP abundance than marine sediments (p = 0.026). Fibers dominated across ecosystems (73.7%), mainly blue and black, while 70% of MPs measured <1 mm. μATR-FTIR analysis identified 12 polymer types, with polymeric blends (synthetic/natural) and polyethylene terephthalate predominating across all ecosystems, reflecting inputs from textile fibers and packaging materials. Principal component analysis revealed sediment granulometry as the main factor controlling MP accumulation. Sandy, low-conductivity ecosystems, particularly the dry forest and beach, functioned as preferential accumulation zones, whereas mangrove sediments exhibited alternative biological retention associated with root structures and reduced hydrodynamic energy. These findings demonstrate that SFF Los Flamencos operates as an integrated MP retention-transport system, representing a potential ecological risk for benthic fauna and coastal wildlife.
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Characterization and quantification of microplastics in marine sediments of the Colombian Caribbean
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Scientists found thousands of tiny plastic pieces, mostly fibers from things like clothing and rope, buried in beach and lagoon sediments along Colombia's Caribbean coast, near two major rivers. This matters because these microplastics can work their way into the food chain, potentially carrying harmful chemicals and heavy metals that end up in the seafood we eat. The study shows microplastic pollution is widespread in coastal ecosystems regardless of season, highlighting how plastic waste keeps accumulating in the environments that feed into our food supply.
Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems: spatiotemporal assessment in beach sediments of protected coastal areas
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Researchers conducted a spatiotemporal assessment of plastic pollution including microplastics in beach sediments across 13 beaches in marine protected areas in Colombia and the Canary Islands, Spain, evaluating plastic debris under varying environmental conditions in ecologically sensitive coastal zones.
Differential accumulation of microplastics in the gills and gastrointestinal tract of fish species of commercial and ecological importance in the Colombian Caribbean Sea
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the guts and gills of virtually every fish they tested from Colombia's Caribbean coast, including species people commonly eat. The plastics, likely from textiles, fishing gear, and packaging, were more abundant during rainy season and varied by fish species and size, suggesting that seafood in this region is widely contaminated with microplastics that could potentially make their way up the food chain to humans who eat fish.
Presence of microplastics: Impacts in a marine-coastal environment of the Colombian Caribbean
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Researchers surveyed microplastic presence in a marine-coastal environment in Colombia, characterizing particle abundance, polymer types, and size distribution in water and sediment samples. Fibres dominated the samples, with polyester and nylon the most common polymers, pointing to synthetic textile washing as a key local source.
Microplastic Occurrence in Relation to Sediment Granulometry Along the Central Caribbean Coast of Colombia
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Scientists found tiny plastic pieces in beach sand along Colombia's coast, with amounts similar to polluted beaches worldwide. The type of sand affects how much plastic builds up - beaches with certain sand textures tend to collect more plastic pollution. This matters because microplastics can enter the food chain through sea life and potentially affect human health when we eat contaminated seafood.
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