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Microplastics and suspended particles in a strongly impacted coastal environment: Composition, abundance, surface texture, and interaction with metal ions
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Researchers analyzed suspended particulate matter composition and microplastic characteristics in the inner zone of Bahia Blanca Estuary, Argentina during winter, finding that microplastics interact with metal ions in this heavily impacted coastal environment and documenting for the first time the combined contamination profile of this industrial waterway.
The composition and the interaction of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) with metal ions, along with the presence and characteristics of microplastics, were analyzed for the first time in the water column of the inner zone of Bahía Blanca Estuary during winter (June, July, and August) 2019. Surface analysis techniques (Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction) were employed to obtain an in-depth characterization of the particulate matter, suggesting the presence of Fe in our samples, with a mixture of Fe/Fe oxidation states. Microplastics ranged in concentrations between 3 and 11.5 items L, with an average of 6.50 items L (S.E: ±4.01), being fibers the most abundant type. Infrared Spectroscopy suggests that these fibers correspond to semi-synthetic cellulose-based and poly(amide) remains. We concluded that the SPM is a significant vehicle for metals which might have adverse effects on marine organisms.
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Beached microplastics at the Bahia Blanca Estuary (Argentina): Plastic pellets as potential vectors of environmental pollution by POPs
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination along beaches of the Bahia Blanca Estuary in Argentina, finding an average of about 1,693 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment. Plastic pellets, which are raw materials used in manufacturing, were particularly common and were found to carry persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on their surfaces. The study shows that microplastics on beaches can act as vehicles for toxic chemicals, potentially exposing both wildlife and people who use these coastal areas.
Microplastics and anthropogenic debris in rainwater from Bahia Blanca, Argentina
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Researchers collected monthly rainwater samples in Bahia Blanca, Argentina over ten months and detected microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in all samples, documenting atmospheric microplastic deposition in a South American city distant from major industrial centers.
Occurrence, distribution, and characterization of suspended microplastics in a highly impacted estuarine wetland in Argentina
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Suspended microplastics were characterized in an estuarine wetland in Argentina, with fiber-dominated samples indicating textile and aquatic sources and seasonal variation in concentration linked to river discharge and wind patterns.
Evaluación De La Presencia De Microplásticos En Playas Del Río Del La Plata: Ciudad De Buenos Aires Y Alrededores
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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.