We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in Cuban freshwaters: Diversity, temporal changes, and effects on extracellular enzymatic activity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first study of microplastics in Cuban freshwater rivers, finding them in sediments at both an urban river and a rural river, with much higher levels in the urban site. PET plastic was the most common type, making up 42% of particles identified. The study also found that polypropylene concentrations were associated with elevated nitrogen compounds and appeared to suppress certain microbial enzyme activities, suggesting microplastics may alter how river sediments process nutrients. The work extends our understanding of microplastic contamination to Caribbean freshwater ecosystems.
Plastics, as synthetic polymers, are emerging contaminants that can harm organisms and ecosystems. This study investigates the presence of microplastics in sediments of two rivers in western Cuba, assessing their temporal variability, diversity, and characterizing the types of microplastics in these ecosystems. Additionally, the study examines the relationship between microplastic concentrations, the extracellular enzymatic activity of benthic microbial communities, and nutrient levels in sediments. Sediments from two stations, the Paila (urban river) and Baños del San Juan (rural river), were analyzed using micro-FTIR for chemical identification, and nutrients and extracellular enzyme activities were determined by colorimetric methods. The results showed higher microplastic concentrations at the Paila station compared to the Baños del San Juan station. The identified microplastics included polyethylene terephthalate (41.9%), polypropylene (25.8%), acrylic (6.5%), polyvinyl chloride (6.5%), polyethylene (3.2%), polyurethane (3.2%), and polyvinyl alcohol (3.2%), with polyethylene terephthalate being the most abundant in both sampling stations. The highest microplastic diversity was observed at the Paila station in April, with June showing the highest concentrations of microparticles. Redundancy analysis showed that nitrite, polypropylene, ammonium, and precipitation were the variables influencing extracellular enzyme activities at both sampling stations. Higher levels of polypropylene were associated with increased levels of nitrite and ammonium. Additionally, it is suggested that polypropylene inhibits proteolytic and catalase activity in the sediments of the studied stations. This investigation is the first report in Cuba of the presence of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems and one of the few studies in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
More Papers Like This
Baseline assessment of microplastic in sediments of the Almendares River and Havana Harbour, Cuba
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested river and harbor sediment in Havana, Cuba, and found tiny plastic bits, mostly from common plastics like food packaging and bottles, at wildly varying levels depending on location. This matters because these waterways connect to the ocean and food chain, meaning the plastic pollution we're tracking today could eventually make its way into seafood and drinking water.
Microbial Community Characteristics of Sediment Environment and Plastisphere in a Typical Highly Urbanized River Basin
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied river sediment and microplastics in an urban river basin in China, comparing microbial communities living on plastic surfaces to those in surrounding sediment. Microplastics were found in all samples tested, mostly fragments and fibers made of PET. Microbial communities on plastics differed somewhat from sediment communities and were linked to sediment chemistry and microplastic type.
Benthic macroinvertebrates and microplastic contamination in contrasting water quality environments of the Middle Tietê River basin (São Paulo, Brazil)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared microplastic contamination in benthic invertebrates and sediments between a heavily polluted urban river and a cleaner tributary in São Paulo, Brazil. Higher microplastic concentrations were found near urban areas, confirming that human activity drives plastic accumulation in freshwater ecosystems.
Anthropogenic Litter in Urban Freshwater Ecosystems: Distribution and Microbial Interactions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified anthropogenic litter in urban rivers and streams and found that microplastics dominated by mass and particle count compared to macroplastic items. The study highlights urban freshwater systems as major conduits for plastic pollution moving toward marine environments and documents distinct microbial communities on plastic surfaces.
Microplastics of surface waters of Colombian Caribbean
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected and characterized microplastics from the surface waters of two Colombian Caribbean sectors influenced by major rivers, sampling across dry and rainy seasons and also analyzing the microbial communities living on the plastic surfaces. The study provides baseline pollution data for a region where microplastic research has been minimal, while the metagenomic analysis of plastisphere microbes adds ecological context. Understanding which microbes colonize plastic in tropical Caribbean waters is relevant to assessing whether those particles serve as vectors for harmful or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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.