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Occurrence, distribution, and characterization of suspended microplastics in a highly impacted estuarine wetland in Argentina
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Suspended microplastics were characterized in an estuarine wetland in Argentina, with fiber-dominated samples indicating textile and aquatic sources and seasonal variation in concentration linked to river discharge and wind patterns.
Microplastics have been a global concern due to their potential and widespread risks to organisms and environments. In this study, we investigated the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in the surface waters of the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE), specifically in its inner and middle zone. The results showed the dominant shape of MPs were fibers, being black, transparent, and blue the main colors. The concentrations of MPs ranged from 182 to 33,373 items m with a mean value of 6162 items m. The highest concentrations of MPs were detected in the middle zone of the estuary, a site that receives untreated sewage effluents from the city. The most abundant size ranges were from 0.5 to 1.5 mm (44.21%) and ˂0.5 mm (40.21%) and were predominant at all the sampling sites. The concentration of mesoplastics in the inner zone (16 items m) presented larger values than in the middle zone (5 items m). A wide variety of polymeric materials with predominance of microfibers such as cellulose-based, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene were identified. Polyester/alkyd resins and poli(vinyl chloride) were also found. The analysis of MPs surface through SEM/EDX detected a variety of elements such as C, O, Si, Al, K, Ca, Cl, Ti, Fe, S, and P, indicating potential contaminant carriers in the water column. Some plastic particles presented a high degree of degradation on their surface morphology. Untreated sewage discharges appear to be a significant input of MPs. Therefore, the results provided in the present study should be considered by stakeholders interested in the management and conservation of this large coastal wetland with significant ecological and economic value.
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Temporal patterns in the abundance, type and composition of microplastics on the coast of the Río de la Plata estuary
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Researchers monitored microplastic abundance, type, and composition monthly for one year in water and intertidal sediment at an urbanized site on the Río de la Plata estuary in Argentina, finding temporal patterns linked to environmental factors including river flow and seasonal variation.
Microfibers at the negro river, patagonia argentina
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Researchers measured microfiber concentrations in surface water along the Negro River estuary in Argentine Patagonia in summer and winter, finding microfibers present at all six sampling locations. Rivers in Patagonia transport microfibers from inland sources to the Atlantic Ocean, contributing to marine plastic pollution even in relatively remote coastal regions.
Transport of microplastics in the Argentine Sea: from the coastal to the Rincón and continental slope front
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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.
Textile sources as the main contributor to atmospheric microplastics in Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Airborne microplastics collected in rainfall samples in Bahia Blanca, Argentina were traced primarily to textile sources, especially synthetic fibers released during washing and manufacturing. This study highlights that the atmosphere is an underappreciated route for microplastic dispersal, carrying particles far from their original sources. Textile-derived microfibers in rainfall can deposit microplastics onto soil and water surfaces across wide areas.
The Chubut River estuary as a source of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles into the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers documented the first evidence of anthropogenic particles, including microplastics and synthetic fibers, in both water and sediment of the Chubut River estuary in Patagonia, Argentina, identifying the river as a pathway delivering plastic pollution into the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
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.