Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Marine litter and microplastic pollution on mangrove soils of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2019 220 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Victoria A. Castillo-Olaya, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Victoria A. Castillo-Olaya, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Victoria A. Castillo-Olaya, Victoria A. Castillo-Olaya, Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Andrés F. Granados-Briceño, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Andrés F. Granados-Briceño, Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Lina M. Blandón, Lina M. Blandón, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Lina M. Blandón, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez Luisa Fernanda Espinosa, Ostin Garcés-Ordóñez

Summary

Researchers assessed marine litter and microplastic contamination in mangrove soils of Colombia's largest coastal lagoon system for the first time. They found significantly higher litter concentrations near populated areas, with plastics comprising up to 96% of all debris, and microplastic levels varying widely across sampling sites. The study highlights the link between inadequate waste management in coastal communities and microplastic accumulation in ecologically important mangrove habitats.

Marine litter pollution has become a complex global problem, because of the negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts as well as the human health risks that it represents. In Colombia, mangroves are affected by inadequate solid waste management, which results in litter accumulation. Additionally, the information related to this problem is limited avoiding the development of prevention and reduction strategies. For the first time, pollution by marine litter and microplastics were evaluated in mangrove soils of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, where 540 ± 137 and 31 ± 23 items/ha of marine litter were determined in mangroves near and away from populated centers respectively. Plastics represented between 73 and 96% of litter, and microplastic quantity oscillated between 31 and 2,863 items/kg finding the highest concentrations in mangroves near to the population. This study contributes to the knowledge of the marine litter problem in mangroves of the Colombian Caribbean, becoming a help for their conservation.

Read via DOI PubMed

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email