Microplastics on Three Sandy Beaches along the Central Coast of Peru

Microplastics (MP) have become a new pollutant of global concern. In the summer of 2020, the amounts of MPs were measured on three sandy beaches along the central coast of Lima, Peru: Chancay, Carpayo and Asia. The method of flotation by density was used, and large (between 1 and 5 mm) and small (< 1 mm) MPs were identified. Their type, shape, color and source were determined. The highest concentration of MPs was found on Carpayo beach, one of the most domestic wastewater-polluted beaches in Latin America. Asia beach, which is much frequented by tourists, had the lowest concentration. The identification of MPs by zone (supralittoral and infralittoral) and by sort (large and small) showed that Carpayo beach’s supralittoral zone had the highest concentration of small MPs. On all three beaches, the highest quantity of large MPs was found in the supralittoral zone. Fiber-type MPs predominated in Chancay and Carpayo, whereas fragment-type MPs prevailed in Asia. Most small MPs were blue and yellow in color and elongated and irregular in shape and mostly came from synthetic clothing, carpets and tubing. Most large MPs were blue, red and white, and elongated, ovoid and rounded, and came from synthetic clothing, carpets, tubing and resins. These results prove that measures need to be taken to improve the environmental health of the sea beaches along Peru’s central coast.