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Microplásticos en el aire y el mar: Evidencia desde los puertos de México
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Researchers detected microplastics in both air and seawater samples at the ports of Veracruz and Manzanillo, Mexico, identifying nine polymer types and confirming these major trade hubs as significant microplastic contamination sites. The study provides baseline data on atmospheric and marine microplastic pollution in Mexican port environments, highlighting port activities as a key emission source.
Microplastics, plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters, have become omnipresent pollutants: they are found in the air we breathe and in the seas around us. This study conducted in the ports of Veracruz and Manzanillo confirms their presence in both matrices, identifying nine types of polymers, with polyester, polyethylene, and acrylic as the most abundant. It also shows that sea breezes transport these particles from the ocean into the atmosphere, enhancing their large-scale dispersion. These findings provide evidence of microplastic dynamics along Mexican coasts and highlight the urgent need to implement strategies to curb their spread and environmental impact.
More Papers Like This
Identification of microplastic present in the atmospheric aerosol of the Port of Veracruz
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Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in atmospheric aerosol samples collected at the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, finding diverse polymer types in the air and suggesting that port activities and marine transport contribute to local airborne microplastic pollution.
Microplastics at the ocean-atmosphere interface in Mexican coastal areas of two major oceans
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This study measured microplastics in both the ocean surface and the air at two major Mexican ports — Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico and Manzanillo on the Pacific — providing rare simultaneous data on plastic particles at the ocean-atmosphere boundary. Nine polymer types were identified, with polyester and polypropylene dominating, and concentrations varied between the two locations and between air and water samples. The findings reveal that microplastics are actively exchanged between the ocean surface and the atmosphere, contributing to airborne plastic exposure in coastal communities.
Port-driven coupling of carbonaceous aerosols and airborne microplastics in a coastal city
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Researchers studying air near a busy port city in Mexico found that soot-like pollution particles and tiny airborne microplastic fibers tend to show up together in the air people breathe, likely both coming from port and ship activity. This matters because it suggests that living near ports may mean inhaling not just traditional pollution, but also a steady stream of microplastic fibers alongside it — a combined exposure that current air quality monitoring often overlooks.
Occurrence and characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City
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Researchers conducted the first study of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City, sampling air at seven monitoring stations across urban, residential, and industrial areas during dry and wet seasons. Microplastics were found in every sample, with higher concentrations near industrial and urban centers and during the dry season. The predominant type was blue fibers, and many particles were small enough to be inhaled, raising concerns about airborne microplastic exposure in densely populated cities.
Occurrence of microplastics in the seawater and atmosphere of the South China Sea: Pollution patterns and interrelationship
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Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in both seawater and the atmosphere of the South China Sea, revealing distribution patterns and an interrelationship between marine and airborne microplastic contamination in the region.
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.