We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Preliminary Assessment of Plastic Litter and Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Depositional Areas: The Case Study of Puerto Misahualli, Ecuadorian Amazonia
Summary
Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of plastic litter and microplastics in sediments at a riverine depositional area in the Ecuadorian Amazon, finding low-density polyethylene bags as the dominant macroplastic and documenting microplastic presence in an upper Amazon basin location.
We quantify plastic litter (PL, > 2 cm) and microplastics (MP, < 5 mm) from the sediments of a beach formed at a riverine depositional area, at the upper Amazon River basin, Ecuador. In the collection area (4400 m), the PL density was 0.045 items m, where low-density polyethylene bags were the prevalent PL. The beach was classified as "very clean" (Clean Coast Index (CCI) of 1.3 items m). Regarding MP, in 55 sampling stations, average MP concentrations ranged from 0 to 2200 items kg of dry sediment (0.5-2 mm), and 0-4200 items kg of dry sediment (2-5 mm). Blue fibers were the prevalent MP. Our results represent the first report to show the ubiquitous presence of PL and MP for the area. The monitoring and management of plastic disposal in freshwater beaches are necessary, as here we report a small part of an undocumented issue.