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The artificialization in the sediment profiles of the streams in the Água Branca basin – Itirapina, São Paulo, Brazil
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This Brazilian study examined urban stream sediments for signs of human impact, comparing samples collected in wet and dry seasons and across land use types. Urban river sediments are major sinks and transport pathways for microplastics, and physical sediment composition reflects overall levels of anthropogenic contamination.
River sediments have the capability to accumulate and absorb traces of anthropic environmental degradation. In this work, we investigated the effects of urban land use on the composition of physical sediment. For this purpose, sediment profiles were collected in the wet and dry seasons and in locations with mixed land-use. For the sediment analysis, particle size separation, organic matter degradation, visual analysis of the thickest fraction using a magnifying glass and stereomicroscope analysis of the particle size material corresponding to the sands were performed. It was observed that the sedimentation of synthetic materials and plastics (fragments and fibres) were the most frequently found materials. More intense urban occupation areas and with less riparian vegetation suffer more from this degradation than rural areas or areas with preserved riparian vegetation. The dam in the basin accumulates more materials (macro and microplastics) and has the role of containing and preventing these residues from being transported downstream. The importance of investing in environmental management measures is emphasized, and based on the sampled sites assessed, the restoration of riparian vegetation, greater inspection of inadequate waste disposal and public cleaning actions are suggested, including actions in the Tibiriçá dam.
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Qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics in runoff sediments and their correlation with land use and occupation in an urban area in the city of Bauru-SP
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Researchers analysed the qualitative and quantitative distribution of microplastics in urban runoff sediments across different land use categories in Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil, including social housing, traditional residential, high-income residential, commercial, and industrial zones. Results indicated that microplastic abundance in transported sediments correlated with land use intensity, with more densely populated and active areas generating higher microplastic loads entering urban drainage networks.
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Researchers sampled a small Brazilian inland stream upstream and downstream of an urban center during dry and rainy seasons, finding urbanization significantly increased microplastic abundance from 1.7 to 2.6 particles per liter during the dry season, while rainfall effects were less consistent.
Understanding Microplastic Pollution in Riverbed Sediments: Special Emphasis on a Medium-Sized City in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
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Sediment samples from an urban stream in Rio Claro, Brazil showed microplastic concentrations up to 18,000 units per kilogram — among the highest reported in Brazil — with fibers and tire wear particles as the dominant types, driven by untreated sewage and stormwater runoff. The extreme pollution levels in a mid-sized city highlight that microplastic contamination is not confined to megacities, posing risks to water quality in smaller urban centers.
Review: Microplastic contamination in the Guandu River basin: The water supply reservoir of Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region (Southeastern Brazil) — R1/PR7
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Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 6.1 ± 4.9 particles/m³ in the cold-dry season and 2.3 ± 1.1 particles/m³ in the warm-rainy season in the Guandu River basin of Rio de Janeiro, with polyethylene and polypropylene dominating and higher abundance linked to greater urban land use.
Distribuição longitudinal, vertical e temporal de microplásticos no Igarapé do Mindu em Manaus, Amazonas
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Researchers analyzed longitudinal, vertical, and temporal distribution of microplastics in the Mindu stream in Manaus, Brazil, finding that urban concentration, stream hydrodynamics, and riparian vegetation all influence microplastic contamination patterns in this Amazonian freshwater system.
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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.