We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic levels on sandy beaches: Are tourism and coastal recreational activities effects really important?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic levels at six sites across three Argentine sandy beaches with varying tourism intensity, finding concentrations averaged 1,133 items/kg in sand and 12.7 items/m3 in seawater, dominated by PE films and PET/cotton fibers. Contrary to expectations, the highest microplastic concentrations and smallest particles were found at a low-activity 'pristine' site, suggesting river proximity and coastal drift rather than tourism are the dominant local pollution drivers.
This study assessed the effect of tourism and other recreational activities on microplastics (MPs) levels and their characteristics in the sand and the surf zone of the seawater. Six sites belonging to 3 sandy beaches with similar geomorphologic and morphodynamic characteristics but with different tourism activities were chosen. On average, a concentration of 1133.3 ± 811.3 items/kg dry wet (d.w.) and 12.7 ± 14.9 items/m3 were found for sand and seawater samples, respectively. Fibers and films predominated and were less than 1 mm in length. In the sand, films matched mainly with the PE polymer spectra and the fibers with PET polymer, cotton, and indigo blue dye; in the seawater samples, PP films and PET fibers prevailed. In the Coastal Marine MPA Pehuén Co – Monte Hermoso where the flow of tourists is low, MPs levels were the lowest and particles were the largest found, mainly blue or black fibers, and with less polymer diversity, being cotton and PET the most prevalent suggesting a recent input of textile fibers to this site. Besides, in the southern site of a beach considered more pristine due to the negligible human activity, the highest concentration of MPs was found, including the smallest size pattern, mostly composed of white films or fibers with a greater diversity of polymers, prevailing PE ¿ PET ¿ PP. A great occurrence of PVC white films was also found in the surf zone of this site. Proximity to the mouth of a river, coastal drift, and other point sources were pointed as the main sources, indicating that apart from tourism and recreational activities, other sources might play a major role in the input of MPs to sandy beaches. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/423957/document
More Papers Like This
Microplastic levels on sandy beaches: Are the effects of tourism and coastal recreation really important?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic levels on sandy beaches in Portugal to determine whether tourism and recreation increase contamination. They found an average of about 1,133 microplastic items per kilogram of sand, mostly fibers and films from polyethylene and polypropylene. While tourism did influence contamination patterns, the study shows that microplastics are widespread on beaches regardless of human activity, creating potential exposure risks for beachgoers.
Linking the Tourism Activity to the Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic abundance, type, and spatial distribution in coastal water, sediments, and fish across three zones of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, finding that tourism-related activities concentrated microplastics at recreational beaches with concentrations reaching 19.25 particles/L.
Macro-, meso- and microplastic abundance in sandy beaches and factors influencing their distribution in an SW Atlantic resort
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed macro-, meso-, and microplastic abundance in marine sediments of tourist beaches in the Southwest Atlantic (Argentina), using generalized linear models to identify how beach morphology, grain size, and human activity influence plastic distribution.
Mesoplastics and large microplastics along a use gradient on the Uruguay Atlantic coast: Types, sources, fates, and chemical loads
AI summary Read the abstract
Plastic debris was found on Uruguayan beaches along a gradient of tourist use, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymers and various toxic chemicals detected on the particles. The study shows that recreational beach use is linked to higher plastic contamination in coastal environments.
Plastics and microplastics on recreational beaches in Punta del Este (Uruguay): Unseen critical residents?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed plastic and microplastic pollution on recreational beaches in Punta del Este, Uruguay, finding contamination levels that reflected tourist activity and coastal currents, and raising concerns for beach users and coastal ecosystems.
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.