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Microplastic occurrence and distribution in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador
Marine Pollution Bulletin2024
3 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 40
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Inés Arteaga,
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Inés Arteaga,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Marcela Cabrera,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Marcela Cabrera,
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Verónica Pinos-Vélez,
Isabel Cipriani-Ávila,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Verónica Pinos-Vélez,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Verónica Pinos-Vélez,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Verónica Pinos-Vélez,
Isabel Cipriani-Ávila,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Marcela Cabrera,
María Elena Cazar,
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
María Elena Cazar,
Marcela Cabrera,
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo,
Marcela Cabrera,
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Camila Arnés‐Urgellés,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Verónica Pinos-Vélez,
María Elena Cazar,
María Elena Cazar,
Verónica Pinos-Vélez,
Marcela Cabrera,
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Isabel Cipriani-Ávila,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Mariana V. Capparelli,
Gabriel M. Moulatlet
Summary
Sampling of water and sediments throughout the Gulf of Guayaquil estuary in Ecuador revealed extremely high microplastic concentrations — particularly polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polypropylene particles — with levels peaking near the city of Guayaquil. The findings document a largely unreported pollution hotspot in South America and highlight urban wastewater and shrimp farming as key contamination sources requiring management.
Microplastics (MPs) were assessed in water and sediment samples along the Salado Estuary, an estuarine system composed of a complex river drainage network in Guayas, Ecuador. MPs were quantified and categorized according to shape, size, and composition. Pellet morphology (237,490 MP/L) and transparent color MPs (252,990 MP/L) were the most common in water, while fragments (27,330 MP/m) and silver color MPs (25,310 MP/kg) were the most common in solid samples (river sediments, mangrove mud, and sand). MPs made of Polycarbonate, Polyestyrene, and Polypropylene were the most common in all samples. Giving MPs characteristics, likely mapped sources were wastewater from Guayaquil and surrounding towns, boats, and shrimp farms. The samples with the highest MPs were found near Guayaquil, and those with the least were found in the estuary mouth. Monitoring and managing plastic disposal in estuaries are fundamental, as we report a small part of an undocumented issue here.