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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.
Part of the contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems is influenced by mass production, consumption habits, and improper disposal of plastics. Plastic degradation and fragmentation lead to the formation of Microplastics (MPs), small particles that easily infiltrate natural systems and pose ecological risks. These MPs are transported by atmospheric and water circulation dynamics, predominantly accumulating in soils and bodies of water, disrupting ecological processes in water, land, biosphere, and anthroposphere. This contamination adversely affects human productivity and disturbs fauna and flora in ecosystems. MPs can be consumed and bioaccumulated, potentially carrying pathogenic microorganisms and causing intoxication through constant contact. Understanding the environmental impacts of microplastic presence is crucial to identifying and addressing contamination sources. It serves as a foundation for adopting clean and sustainable production practices, minimizing negative impacts, and maximizing positive effects on ecosystems. Environmental education and scientific research play vital roles in raising awareness and fostering societies' involvement in managing emission sources that disturb sensitive ecosystems.
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Microplastics pollution on Colombian Central Caribbean beaches
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Researchers conducted a baseline survey of microplastic contamination on Colombia's Central Caribbean Coast beaches, documenting MP types, sizes, and polymer compositions for the first time in that region and finding primarily secondary microplastics from fragmented larger debris.
Abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in coastal surface waters of the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific
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This study documented microplastic abundance, distribution, and characteristics across Colombian Caribbean and Pacific coastal surface waters during the 2017 rainy season, finding concentrations up to 8.96 items per square meter and establishing the first national baseline for microplastic pollution in Colombian coastal waters.
Assessing microplastic pollution along the Caribbean coast of La Guajira, Colombia
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution along 125 km of the Caribbean coast of La Guajira, Colombia. They found microplastics at four of seven beaches sampled, with filaments from fishing activities predominating and polymers primarily consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene.
Microplastics of marine sediments of the Colombian Caribbean
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This study quantified and characterized microplastics in marine sediments from two sectors of the Colombian Caribbean influenced by the Magdalena and Sinú rivers. Microplastics were found at all sampling sites, providing baseline data for this understudied region.
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.
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.