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Evaluating Microplastic Pollution in Beach Sands from the Mexican Pacific Coast: Insights from a Standardized Monitoring Approach
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Researchers implemented a standardized REMARCO/IAEA monitoring protocol at two tourist beaches and a coastal lagoon in Mazatlan, Mexico, collecting 124 beach sand samples between June 2020 and July 2021 to assess microplastic pollution (1-5 mm) and temporal variability, identifying fragments and foam as dominant types and synthetic polymers including polyethylene and polypropylene as primary constituents via ATR-FTIR analysis.
Supported by the Latin American and Caribbean Coastal Marine Stressors Network (REMARCO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a standardized protocol for microplastic (MP) monitoring was implemented at two tourist beaches and an urbanized coastal lagoon in Mazatlán, Mexico, an area of significant tourist, commercial, and industrial activity on the northern Pacific coast. Between June 2020 and July 2021, 124 beach sand samples were collected to assess MP pollution (1–5 mm) and its temporal variability. The polymer composition of 15% of the extracted particles was analyzed using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy (Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5). The primary types of MP identified were fragments and foam (21–41%), with synthetic polymers—polyethylene (PE; 35–44%), polypropylene (PP; 19–30%), and polystyrene (PS; 9–10%)—being the most prevalent across all sites. Additionally, cellulose (0–2%) and cotton (1–2%) particles were detected, and 14–28% of analyzed particles were confirmed as non-plastic. Thanks to REMARCO, the IAEA's RLA7028 project, and its NUTEC initiative, this monitoring program has now expanded to include additional coastal areas in the Mexican Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, with plans to analyze smaller MPs (0.3–5 mm) in future beach sand surveys.
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in beach sands, surface waters, and sediment traps in the tourist city of Mazatlan, Mexico, finding higher concentrations during the rainy season and in urban areas, with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments being the most abundant types.
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