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Dataset of quantification and classification of microplastics in Mexican sandy beaches
Summary
This dataset presents the first national survey of microplastic contamination on 35 Mexican beaches across five coastal regions. Microplastics were found at all beaches, with fragments and pellets being the most common types, providing baseline data for monitoring plastic pollution along Mexico's coasts.
The presence of microplastics in marine and coastal environments is an issue of concern for the preservation of these ecosystems. This dataset provides the results of the first national assessment of the presence of microplastics (<5 mm) in Mexican beaches. The research included 35 beaches along the five marine regions of the country. For each beach, ten samples (19 cm diameter, 5 cm depth) were taken along the high-tide line, and then microplastics were extracted by flotation and sieving. All the plastic particles were quantified and classified based on their colour, type of particle, and type of plastic used in their production, using visual inspection and FTIR spectroscopy. The use of the same methodology in all the beaches allowed us to compare and analyze the results, which are reported in the article Microplastics in Mexican beaches.