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Microplastics in bivalves, water and sediments from a touristic sandy beach of Argentina
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments, water, and two species of edible mussels at a popular beach in Argentina. They found microplastics in all samples at levels comparable to other human-impacted coastal areas worldwide, with fibers being the most common type. The study raises concerns about human exposure to microplastics through consuming locally harvested shellfish.
This study assesses for the first time the concentrations of microplastics (MPs) in sediments, water and two human-consumed mussels with different ecological traits (Amarilladesma mactroides and Brachidontes rodriguezii) in a touristic sandy beach of Argentina. MPs were characterized through FTIR and SEM/EDX techniques. All the samples presented MPs with similar concentrations as other human-impacted coastal areas of the world, being black and blue fibers of < 0.5 and 0.5-1 mm the most abundant. SEM images exhibited cracks and fractures with clay minerals and microorganisms adhered to MPs surface. EDX spectrums showed potentially toxic elements, such as Cr, Ti, and Mo. FTIR identified polymers such as cellulose, polyamides, and polyacrylates in most of the samples analyzed. Our study demonstrates that microplastic pollution is a common threat to sandy beaches in Argentina, worsened by plastic particles carrying metal ions with potential toxic effects to the biota, including A. mactroides, an endangered species.
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Profiling microplastic fibers in the intertidal sentinel mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii from the coast of Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in small mussels along the coast of Argentina's most popular resort city and found plastic particles in nearly 98% of all specimens examined. Surprisingly, the highest contamination levels were found at the least urbanized site, suggesting that agricultural runoff and local water currents, not just city pollution, play important roles in distributing microplastics. The study underscores that microplastic contamination in coastal shellfish is widespread regardless of the level of nearby urban development.
Abundance, composition, and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediment and soft tissues of four species of Bivalvia from Southeast Brazilian urban beaches
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Researchers found 100% microplastic contamination in intertidal sediments and four bivalve species from urbanized Brazilian beaches, identifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET polymers in organisms commonly consumed by humans.
Assessing urban microplastic pollution in a benthic habitat of Patagonia Argentina
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Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in benthic environments near Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, finding microplastics present in mussels, small fishes, and bottom water at all sampled sites, with average concentrations of 1.6 items per gram wet weight in fish and 10.5 items per liter in bottom water.
Microplastics in tissues of the mussel Mytilus edulis platensis from the San Jorge Gulf, Atlantic Patagonian Sea
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Microplastics were detected in the tissues of mussels (Mytilus edulis platensis) from the San Jorge Gulf in Patagonia, Argentina, an area with limited prior pollution monitoring. The contamination was associated with proximity to coastal cities that discharge partially treated wastewater. The findings reveal that even remote Patagonian coastal ecosystems are affected by microplastic pollution from coastal urbanization and call for improved wastewater infrastructure in the region.
Microplastics in tourist beaches of Huatulco Bay, Pacific coast of southern Mexico
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Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastics on tourist beaches in Huatulco Bay, Mexico, collecting 70 sediment samples across two seasons and finding fibrous microplastics at all sampled beaches, with the highest counts linked to tourism activity and hotel and restaurant effluent discharge.
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.