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First sampling of microplastics in streams and rivers of peninsular Spain
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Researchers conducted one of the first sampling campaigns for microplastics in rivers and streams across peninsular Spain, collecting samples from 157 water bodies. Microplastics were detected across a wide range of freshwater habitats, providing baseline data for future monitoring and policy decisions. The study demonstrates widespread microplastic contamination in Spanish inland waters.
Durante 2019 y 2020 se llevó a cabo una campaña de muestreo para la identificación de microplásticos en 157 arroyos y ríos de la España peninsular. El muestreo se realizó aplicando una metodología desarrollada por HyT (Asociación Hombre y Territorio) en el marco del Proyecto LIBERA y, en concurrencia con una campaña de análisis de contaminantes en IBA (Áreas Importantes para la Conservación de las Aves y la Biodiversidad) llevada a cabo por SEO/BirdLife. Las muestras fueron procesadas inicialmente para la detección de microplásticos bajo lupa y posteriormente fueron sometidas a análisis de espectroscopía infrarroja FTIR (Espectrofotómetro de transformada de Fourier) por el Servicio de Microanálisis de la Universidad de Sevilla. Los resultados de este muestreo, el primero de estas características que se realiza en España para la detección de estos contaminantes, reflejan que más de un 70% de las muestras tienen presencia de microplásticos, con una mayor presencia de fibras, fragmentos y films. Entre las muestras analizadas con FTIR se han identificado un total de 33 polímeros diferentes. El trabajo ofrece, por tanto, datos relevantes acerca de este problema en ríos y arroyos de España.
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Microplastic pollution in the Tagus River: Distribution and abundance from the the river mouth to the Portuguese border
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic presence in the Portuguese stretch of the Tagus River, characterizing particle distribution and abundance in a major inland waterway that has been understudied compared to marine and coastal systems. Microplastics were detected throughout the sampled river stretch, with spatial patterns reflecting land use and wastewater inputs along the catchment.
Microplastics in water, sediments and macroinvertebrates in a small river of NW Spain
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Researchers found microplastics in water, sediment, and aquatic invertebrate species throughout a small urban river in northwest Spain, including inside the body cases of caddisfly larvae. The study confirms that microplastic contamination reaches even the headwaters of urban rivers and enters freshwater invertebrates, with potential to move up the food chain.
Microplastics in Water, Sediments and Macroinvertebrates in a Small River of NW Spain
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This preprint study characterized microplastics in water, sediments, and macroinvertebrates in a small river in northwest Spain. The authors subsequently requested removal of the paper from the preprint server.
Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in River Ecosystems: Effect of Land Use and Biotic Indices
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Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in Spanish river ecosystems and found that concentrations in both water and sediment were strongly linked to surrounding urban land use. They discovered that traditional water quality assessments based on biological indicators do not capture microplastic contamination effectively. The study suggests that new monitoring approaches are needed to account for this emerging pollutant in river health evaluations.
Microplastics contamination in sediments from Portuguese inland waters: Physical-chemical characterisation and distribution
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Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in sediments from Portuguese inland freshwater systems, identifying particle shapes, sizes, and polymer types to establish baseline contamination levels and inform strategies for reducing plastic accumulation in freshwater environments.
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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.