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Quantifying Marine Surface Microplastics in La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico
Summary
Scientists tested the waters of a Puerto Rico marine reserve for microplastics—tiny plastic bits from broken-down trash and packaging—and found surprisingly low levels, similar to what's found far out in the open ocean. This suggests local coastal sources (like beach litter) aren't the main culprit; instead, ocean currents may be carrying plastics in from elsewhere. While this study didn't test health effects, microplastics are increasingly found in seafood and drinking water, and this research helps establish a baseline to track whether pollution in this reserve gets worse over time.
Microplastic pollution has become a global concern due to its widespread impacts on organisms and ecosystems. While there have been a few studies quantifying microplastics in inland areas of Puerto Rico, none, to our knowledge, have studied nearshore coastal surface waters. This study, therefore, presents the first assessment of microplastic concentrations and descriptions in the surface waters of La Parguera Natural Reserve, southwestern Puerto Rico. Using 333-micron plankton net trawls, we found low mean ± standard deviation microplastic concentrations of 0.02 ± 0.07 microplastic particles m−3 (95% confidence interval = 0.01 to 0.04 microplastic particles m−3). The most prevalent polymers were high-density polyethylene (48%) and polyethylene (32%), followed by polypropylene (11%) and polystyrene (7%). The most common colors were white (50%), blue (34%), black (8%), red (5%), and colorless (3%). Subsequently, the common structures found were fragments (78%), filaments (12%), films (8%), and fibers (2%). No clear coastal gradient or seasonal patterns were detected (p < 0.05), and mean concentrations were similar to previously surveyed oceanic waters from the Caribbean, suggesting coastal sources of marine microplastics were minimal compared to oceanic sources. This study provides a foundational understanding of microplastics in the coastal waters of La Parguera Natural Reserve and provides critical baseline data for detecting potential future changes in microplastic concentrations.