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Rethinking the Environmental Quality of Brazilian Beaches: The Incidence of Microplastics as Indicator for Sea Water and Sand Quality
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This paper proposes using microplastic levels in beach sand and seawater as indicators of beach environmental quality, arguing that current assessments in Brazil focus too narrowly on microbial contamination. The authors present evidence that microplastic contamination poses health risks to swimmers and coastal communities that should be incorporated into beach quality standards.
Beaches are essential, multidimensional, and dynamic systems of unique importance from social, ecological, and economic points of view. Despite their immense value, the quality of Earth’s beaches is being threatened by marine pollution, mostly composed of plastic debris. Specifically, microplastics are a threatening global phenomenon because of their diffusive character. In short, this implies severe potential adverse effects on human health. Therefore, a complete assessment of beaches’ environmental quality, including their suitability for swimming, is crucial. However, the main concern
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Environmental Health of Sandy Beaches: Distribution and Contamination Levels in Benthic Biodiversity
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This Portuguese-language study assessed environmental health of sandy beaches in Brazil, measuring microplastic distribution, contamination indices, and bioindicator organisms to evaluate ecological status and identify pollution sources along the coastline.
Contaminação Por Microplásticos Em Praias Arenosas No Brasil: Uma Revisão Sistemática
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This review systematically examines microplastic contamination studies on sandy beaches across Brazil, covering publications from the first Brazilian study in 2009 onward and identifying that sediment (76% of studies), water (12%), and biota (12%) are the primary compartments investigated. The review finds tourism, fishing, and river discharge as the main microplastic sources, and identifies significant methodological gaps that limit cross-study comparisons.
Microplastics in brazilian marine environments: a study on beaches in São Francisco do Sul - SC
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Beach surveys along São Francisco do Sul in southern Brazil confirmed widespread microplastic presence in coastal sediments, with polymer composition reflecting regional plastic waste streams. The study adds to the body of evidence that Brazilian coastlines are significantly contaminated and calls for national monitoring standards to track and manage the problem.
Microplastics Beach Pollution: Composition, Quantification and Distribution on the Southern Coast of Brazil
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Researchers quantified microplastic pollution on a southern Brazilian beach, finding an average of 650 MPs/kg of sediment with highest concentrations near the Mampituba River mouth, dominated by polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide particles in the 50–100 µm range. The findings confirm that riverine transport is a major pathway delivering microplastics to coastlines, underscoring the need for upstream source control to protect coastal ecosystems.
Litter assessment on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast: a large-scale analysis of macrolitter and microplastics
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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.
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.