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First evidence of microplastics in Cienfuegos bay, Cuba
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Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastics in Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba, finding contamination in seawater, sediments, and the mussel Perna viridis across all sampling stations in both wet and dry seasons. Concentrations in seawater were higher than most values reported globally, and industrial activity near the bay appeared to be a contributing factor. The study represents a first look at coastal microplastic pollution in a Cuban ecosystem.
En las últimas décadas los desechos plásticos han sido reconocidos como contaminantes marinos emergentes de gran importancia, por su persistencia, omnipresencia y por ser un tóxico potencial debido a que adsorben contaminantes orgánicos en un alto grado. Estudios anteriores reportan los mayores valores de microplásticos en bahías cerradas con actividad industrial. En la bahía de Cienfuegos se han cuantificado diferentes contaminantes pero no existen estudios reportados para la evaluación de microplásticos en este ecosistema. En este trabajo nos planteamos realizar un estudio de las aguas, sedimentos y Perna viridis de la bahía de Cienfuegos para evaluar la presencia y densidad de microplásticos. Entre los principales resultados se encontró la presencia de microplásticos en todas las estaciones de la bahía para los dos períodos, seca y lluvia, en el agua de mar con 49 562.5 y 5093.75 microplásticos/m3 respectivamente, en el sedimento con 357.14 y 852.86 microplásticos/kg respectivamente, y en P. viridis con 15.7 y 5.8 microplásticos/g respectivamente. Estos valores resultaron superiores que los registrados en la literatura en la mayoría de los casos, siendo esta la principal conclusión del estudio realizado. Este trabajo constituye el primer acercamiento al estudio de los microplásticos en ecosistemas costeros de Cuba de ahí la novedad del mismo.
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Assessment of microplastics particles (0.3–5 mm) in sandy beaches of Cuba
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution on sandy beaches in Cuba, sampling four beaches with different characteristics on the island's north and south coasts. They found microplastics at three of four sites, with the highest abundance of 95 particles per square meter at a beach inside Cienfuegos Bay. Polyethylene was the most common polymer, followed by polypropylene and polystyrene, with fragments being the dominant shape.
Microplastic contamination in bivalves: First assessment in three coastal lagoons of the colombian caribbean, south america
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic contamination in bivalves from three coastal lagoons, examining filter-feeding mollusks that concentrate suspended particles from surrounding waters. Microplastics were detected in bivalve tissues across all sites, establishing baseline contamination levels in these coastal ecosystems.
Abundance of microplastic in green mussel Perna viridis, water, and sediment in Kamal Muara, Jakarta Bay
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Researchers measured microplastic abundance in green mussels, seawater, and sediments from a harbor in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, finding microplastics in all three matrices. The correlation between microplastics in mussels and the surrounding environment confirms that these edible shellfish accumulate plastic from their habitat.
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Researchers investigated microplastics in coastal waters of Hainan Island, China, finding higher concentrations near harbors and industrial zones with a significant positive correlation between microplastic abundance and petroleum contamination, suggesting shared pollution sources.
Microplastic contamination in natural mussel beds from a Brazilian urbanized coastal region: Rapid evaluation through bioassessment
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Researchers used the mussel Perna perna as a bioindicator to assess microplastic contamination in the Santos estuary, Brazil's most urbanized coastal region. The study found that 75% of sampled mussels had ingested microplastics, providing a rapid bioassessment method and raising concerns about both environmental and human health implications in this heavily populated area.
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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.