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Small microplastics on beaches of Fernando de Noronha Island, Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers characterized small microplastics (under 1mm) on 15 beaches of Fernando de Noronha Island in the tropical Atlantic, a protected Brazilian oceanic island. Synthetic fibers were the most common type found, with both windward and leeward beaches contaminated, demonstrating that even remote, protected islands are not free from microplastic pollution.
Oceanic islands are important areas of environmental, social, economic, and scientific interest. Therefore, it is essential to identify pollutants in these environments, including large (1 mm to ≤ 5 mm) and small microplastics (SMP) (1 µm to ≤ 1 mm). Here, SMP were identified and characterized in the windward (WW) and leeward (LW) beaches of Fernando de Noronha Island. Samples were collected from 900 cm2 quadrants on the strandline of 15 sandy beaches and were sieved through stainless steel sieves with 1 mm mesh. The SMP were characterized according to their shape, colour, and size. Synthetic fibres and fragments were identified, and synthetic fibres were predominant. Statistical differences were not found between the WW and LW beaches (160.0±137.5 particles m-2 and 128.0±84.3 particles m-2, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test: U=198.5; p=0.81) in relation to the total amount of SMP deposited on the beaches. Also, both types/shapes were present in the two groups of beaches (Friedman’s test, X2r=6.09; p=0.91). The environmental forcings controlling the transport and potential deposition of synthetic fibres may have been different from those acting on fragments that more resembled the grains of sand in the beaches. Although it is difficult to prevent allochthonous sources of SMP at the small scale, management actions on the island are mandatory to prevent autochthonous sources.
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Researchers found microplastics on beaches of three remote Atlantic islands — Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos, and Trindade — with plastic fragments predominating over fibers, demonstrating that even isolated island beaches far from population centers accumulate ocean plastic debris.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers sampled microplastics on beaches of three remote Brazilian oceanic islands in the western tropical Atlantic and found particles on two of the three islands, with fragments being the most common type. The presence of microplastics even on these isolated islands confirms that ocean currents carry plastic contamination far from coastal population centers.
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Researchers conducted daily beach sediment sampling on Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil, documenting large spatial and temporal variability in microplastic concentrations (0.6-1,059 particles/m) and finding that remote island beaches are not protected from microplastic contamination.
Contaminação ambiental por microplásticos em Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos e Trindade
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Researchers surveyed 19 beaches across eight islands of the Azores archipelago for microplastic contamination. Fibers, mostly polyester, made up over 80% of the particles found, with the highest concentrations on Terceira Island, showing that even remote oceanic islands in the Atlantic are not spared from widespread microplastic pollution.
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