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Spatio-seasonal microplastics distribution along a shallow coastal lagoon ecocline within a marine conservation unit
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Researchers conducted monthly sampling along a shallow coastal lagoon ecocline in a Brazilian marine conservation unit and found seasonal variation in microplastic abundance driven by rainfall and river inputs, with polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments dominating the samples.
The aim of our study is to estimate the abundance and sources of floating microplastics (MPs) along a coastal lagoon ecocline in a marine conservation unit (MCU) for implementing effective prevention and mitigation actions in South Brazil. MPs were sampled monthly, and the abundance and size were determined for hard solids, soft plastic, plastic filaments, and paint fragments. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis was performed, and the MPs were classified as polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, polybutadiene, and polystyrene. Downstream areas (outside of the MCU) showed high levels of MPs, during the winter, due to low precipitation and the predominance of S/SE winds. During summer, precipitation increases, and MPs are exported with surface runoff, resulting in lower level of MPs. Outside MCU areas, a high concentration of tourism houses, commercials, and artisanal fisheries were observed, which could contribute to all types of plastic debris found in our study.
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Microplastics were characterized in samples from a coastal lagoon in Brazil, identifying the dominant polymer types, shapes, and sizes present in the environment. Fragments and fibers were most common, with polyethylene and polypropylene identified as the primary polymers, reflecting inputs from fishing, agriculture, and urban runoff in the watershed. The study establishes baseline data for microplastic pollution in this ecologically sensitive coastal system.
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Researchers investigated seasonal microplastic abundance and distribution in Portugal's Lis River Basin across nine sites, finding fibres and fragments dominated in both water and sediment, with polyethylene the most common polymer in water. Population density, plastic processing companies, and meteorological factors were all associated with seasonal variation in microplastic patterns.
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Researchers found that wastewater discharged into France's Arcachon Bay releases an estimated 127 million anthropogenic particles — including 30 million microplastics — into the Atlantic Ocean every single day, with seasonal spikes linked to tourism and fishing. The findings highlight wastewater systems as a major ongoing pathway for microplastic pollution reaching open ocean environments.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.