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Microplastics in subsurface waters of the western equatorial Atlantic (Brazil)
Marine Pollution Bulletin2019
65 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 35
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Carolina Coelho Campos,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Mauro de Meló Júnior,
Mauro de Meló Júnior,
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Mauro de Meló Júnior,
Érika Maria Targino Mota,
Érika Maria Targino Mota,
Tatiane Martins Garcia,
Nívia Maria Oliveira Santos,
Nívia Maria Oliveira Santos,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Renata Pollyana de Santana Campelo,
Renata Pollyana de Santana Campelo,
Luana Catherine Gomes Prado,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Luana Catherine Gomes Prado,
Mauro de Meló Júnior,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Mauro de Meló Júnior,
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Marcelo de Oliveira Soares
Summary
Microplastics were widespread in subsurface waters of the western equatorial Atlantic, with highest concentrations near urbanized coasts, river mouths, and fishing grounds. Fibers dominated, accounting for about 80% of all particles — suggesting textile washing and fishing gear are major sources in this ocean region.
We provide a baseline assessment of the density and types of microplastics in the western equatorial Atlantic. The highest microplastics density was found in coastal stations near urbanized sites, large tropical estuaries, and fishing grounds. With regard to microplastics composition, most of the identified particles were fibers/filaments, styrofoam, hard and soft plastic, paint, and glass/acrylic. Fibers/filaments were the most abundant (~80%) and occurred at all stations, in both types of mesh nets. Hard plastic particles were frequent (78%) only in the 120 μm mesh net. The mean density recorded in the 120 μm mesh net was about seven times greater than that in the 300 μm mesh net, suggesting that the larger mesh size net did not lead to an accurate description of microplastics density in the pelagic environment or the degree of risk to which organisms are exposed.