We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Marine debris on a tropical coastline: Abundance, predominant sources and fate in a region with multiple activities (Fortaleza, Ceará, northeastern Brazil)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first systematic assessment of marine debris on the coastline of Fortaleza, Brazil, finding that over 80% of debris was synthetic, with recreational activities as the dominant source and small items like cotton swabs and lollipop sticks comprising the most numerous fraction — while river input played a minor role due to seasonal dry periods.
The aim of the present study was to perform the first assessment of the abundance and classification of marine debris as well as determine the sources, transport and fate of this debris on an urbanized coast with multiple human activities. More than 80% of the marine debris was composed of synthetic materials. The beached marine debris was classified according to size. Meso-debris accounted for the highest portion of contamination (55%), followed by macro-debris (25.1%) and small debris (19.9%). Contamination by debris, such as cotton swabs (31%) and lollipop sticks (36.8%) accounted for the largest portion of the small debris class. Human recreational activities were the predominant source of debris, followed by navigation/fishing activities, domestic activities and industrial/port activities. The assessment of the predominance of human activities and the results of the model revealed a larger contribution of debris from recreational activities on nearby beaches on the small to larger scale and that rivers exert less of an influence due to the fact that they do not flow the entire year.
More Papers Like This
Litter assessment on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast: a large-scale analysis of macrolitter and microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a large-scale assessment of macrolitter and microplastic contamination on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast, characterizing pollution patterns, dominant polymer types, and potential anthropogenic sources across multiple sites.
Morphology, chemical characterization and sources of microplastics in a coastal city in the equatorial zone with diverse anthropogenic activities (fortaleza city, brazil)
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were characterized in samples from a coastal lagoon in Brazil, identifying the dominant polymer types, shapes, and sizes present in the environment. Fragments and fibers were most common, with polyethylene and polypropylene identified as the primary polymers, reflecting inputs from fishing, agriculture, and urban runoff in the watershed. The study establishes baseline data for microplastic pollution in this ecologically sensitive coastal system.
Morphology, Chemical Characterization and Sources of Microplastics in a Coastal City in the Equatorial Zone with Diverse Anthropogenic Activities (Fortaleza city, Brazil)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized the types and sources of microplastics found in coastal seawater near Fortaleza, Brazil, identifying fishing activity, household laundry, and food packaging as the dominant sources accounting for over 80% of contamination. The study provides a polymer database that can help identify microplastic origins in other tropical coastal cities with similar human activity patterns.
Meso- and microplastic composition, distribution patterns and drivers: A snapshot of plastic pollution on Brazilian beaches
AI summary Read the abstract
A standardized survey of plastic pollution across 22 sandy beaches spanning over 4600 km of Brazilian coast found widespread contamination in coastal sediments, with polymer type, size, and distribution patterns reflecting diverse sources including fishing activity and urban runoff.
Morphology, Chemical Characterization and Sources of Microplastics in a Coastal City in The Equatorial Zone With Diverse Anthropogenic Activities (Fortaleza City, Brazil)
AI summary Read the abstract
This Brazilian study performed morphological and chemical characterization of microplastics in seawater samples from the coast of Fortaleza, a major coastal city in the equatorial zone. Using multiple spectroscopic techniques, the research identified polymer types and investigated the diversity of anthropogenic sources contributing to coastal microplastic contamination.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.