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Distribution, characteristics and short-term variability of microplastics in beach sediment of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil
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Researchers conducted daily beach sediment sampling on Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil, documenting large spatial and temporal variability in microplastic concentrations (0.6-1,059 particles/m) and finding that remote island beaches are not protected from microplastic contamination.
Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is highly vulnerable to microplastic pollution, which has been previously reported with snapshot samplings on the site. The present study has performed daily beach sediment samplings on the archipelago, aiming to assess the distribution, characteristics and short-term variability of microplastics (1-5 mm), expressing concentrations in three different units. The concentrations ranged from 0.6 ± 2.5 particles/m to 1059.3 ± 1385.6 particles/m and showed a large spatial and temporal small-scale variability. The results indicate that microplastic contamination is recurrent in Fernando de Noronha and the distribution of these particles is associated with a combination of various physical processes. A wider comparison with results obtained in beaches worldwide was possible using different units of concentration, but standard methods for sampling and analysis of microplastics is needed to better understanding of large-scale spatial and temporal variability.
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Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers found microplastics on beaches of three remote Atlantic islands — Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos, and Trindade — with plastic fragments predominating over fibers, demonstrating that even isolated island beaches far from population centers accumulate ocean plastic debris.
Contaminação ambiental por microplásticos em Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos e Trindade
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This study characterized microplastic contamination at three remote Brazilian islands - Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos, and Trindade - finding plastic particles in ocean surface waters, beach sediments, and deep sediments. The findings highlight that even isolated, protected marine areas are not immune to microplastic pollution.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers sampled microplastics on beaches of three remote Brazilian oceanic islands in the western tropical Atlantic and found particles on two of the three islands, with fragments being the most common type. The presence of microplastics even on these isolated islands confirms that ocean currents carry plastic contamination far from coastal population centers.
Small microplastics on beaches of Fernando de Noronha Island, Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers characterized small microplastics (under 1mm) on 15 beaches of Fernando de Noronha Island in the tropical Atlantic, a protected Brazilian oceanic island. Synthetic fibers were the most common type found, with both windward and leeward beaches contaminated, demonstrating that even remote, protected islands are not free from microplastic pollution.
Widespread microplastics distribution at an Amazon macrotidal sandy beach
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Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination at a macrotidal sandy beach on the Amazon coast of Brazil, detecting an average of 492.5 particles per square meter with fibers dominating across three depth strata down to 60 cm.
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