We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Estudio de microplásticos en muestras de agua y sedimentos de un río urbano del suroccidente de Colombia
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were detected in both water and sediment samples from the Molino River flowing through Popayán, Colombia, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms found in this urban waterway.
Objective: To characterize the microplastics of sediments and water samples from the Molino River in the Urban Zone of the Municipality of Popayán, Cauca. Methodology: Sediment and water samples were collected at three stations on the banks of the Molino River as it passes through the urban perimeter of the municipality of Popayán and transported for laboratory analysis, extracting microplastics by implementing filtration and density separation activities, ending with inspection and counting by microscopy. Results: Plastic particles were determined in all samples, stipulating their morphological classification and their quantity in units of MP/L and MP/Kg for water and sediments, respectively. Conclusions: A total of 4186 MP/L and 62763 MP/Kg were identified. The anthropic influence acted as a main determinant in the concentration of these polymers and their respective morphological percentages, as well as in their classification, which was mostly secondary.
More Papers Like This
Estudio de microplásticos en muestras de agua y sedimentos de un río urbano del suroccidente de Colombia
AI summary Read the abstract
A study of a Colombian urban river found microplastics in all water and sediment samples, with concentrations reaching 4,186 particles per liter in water and 62,763 per kilogram in sediments, and human activity along the riverbank directly correlated with contamination levels. This adds to evidence that urban rivers act as major conduits channeling microplastics from cities into the ocean.
Distribution of microplastics in water and sediment of Negro River and Peñol-Guatapé reservoir, Colombia
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic bits (mostly small blue and clear fibers) in both the water and riverbed of a Colombian river and reservoir, with more showing up during rainy seasons when heavy flows wash plastic downstream. This matters because these waterways likely feed into drinking water systems or local ecosystems, meaning the plastics, and whatever chemicals they carry, could eventually make their way into the food and water people rely on.
Microplastic abundance and composition along an anthropogenic pressure gradient in an Andean river (Colombia)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance across an altitudinal gradient in a Colombian Andean river, finding highest concentrations in downstream urban and agricultural zones, with fibers and polypropylene dominating across water, sediment, and fish samples—the first report of microplastics in freshwater fish from the Tolima region.
Microplásticos en sedimentos fluviales en la cuenca baja del río Rímac, Perú
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were detected in river sediments from the lower Rímac River basin in Peru, with concentrations linked to upstream urban and industrial plastic waste that enters the river system without adequate treatment.
Understanding Microplastic Pollution in Riverbed Sediments: Special Emphasis on a Medium-Sized City in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Sediment samples from an urban stream in Rio Claro, Brazil showed microplastic concentrations up to 18,000 units per kilogram — among the highest reported in Brazil — with fibers and tire wear particles as the dominant types, driven by untreated sewage and stormwater runoff. The extreme pollution levels in a mid-sized city highlight that microplastic contamination is not confined to megacities, posing risks to water quality in smaller urban centers.
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.