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Transport of microplastics in the Argentine Sea: from the coastal to the Rincón and continental slope front
Summary
Microplastics were sampled from both coastal and open sea areas of the Argentine Sea and found to be predominantly fibers in all locations, with concentrations decreasing from coastal to offshore stations. Fibers made up nearly all particles found at coastal sampling sites, indicating that land-based and shipping sources dominate the contamination. The study provides important baseline data for understanding microplastic distribution across a large and undersampled South Atlantic marine ecosystem.
MPs (plastic particles 2-2.99 mm (14% and 8%) ¿ 3-3.99 mm (11% and 4%) ¿ 4-4.99 mm (5% and 2%). Mesoplastics (particles ¿ 5 mm) were also detected representing 11% and 7% of the MPs for coastal and open sea samples, respectively. According to their shape, microfibers were predominant for all samples (100% and 95% for costal areas and open sea, respectively); and the principal color for coastal waters was red (37%) followed by black/transparent (20%), and blue (18%) while for open sea samples was black (35%) followed by transparent (21%), blue (18%), and red (15%). Other colors presented occurrences less than 5%. This work provides the first evidence of contamination by MPs from the coastal to the Rincón and continental slope front of the Argentine sea and generates a scientific baseline, necessary to improve the management of plastic waste and its derivatives in the area studied. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/426365/document