We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics pollution in the South American Pantanal
AI summary Read the abstract
This is a duplicate entry for the study documenting microplastic pollution in the South American Pantanal wetlands, the world's largest tropical wetland. Microplastics were found in water and sediment, confirming that plastic pollution has reached this remote but biodiverse ecosystem.
Microplastics represent an emerging global threat to freshwater ecosystems and studies in floodplains are still incipient. Microplastics in the Pantanal’s affluent and floodplains were sampled close to their potential urban sources and in the Pantanal lowlands. A 68 μm mesh size plankton net, with a 150 ml collection flask was used for sampling. The flask content was filtered over a 0.45μm Whatman paper, 47 mm in diameter, and examined under a stereomicroscope at 45X to identify and count microplastics (expressed as n100L -1 ). Microplastic sizes were determined by image microscopy. The average microplastic size was 192±142 μm and it was not significantly different in the urban tributaries (206±158 μm) than in the Pantanal (181±131 μm). The average±std microplastic concentration was 9.6±8.3, ranging from 1 to 31 n100L -1 . Fibers, fragments, pellets, and XPS (closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam) particles represented respectively 50%, 19%, 22% and 9% of the total microplastics. Microplastics concentrations were higher in the urban tributaries (19.9±5.8 n100L -1 ) than in the Pantanal lowlands (4.5±2.5 n100L -1 ). Fibers were always the most important fraction, followed by fragments. In the lowlands, pellets were scarce and XPS were absent. Comparison between microplastic composition in the floodplain and the urban areas suggest that pellets are transported from the urban area to the Pantanal, while microfibers and fragments could both be transported from the urban areas and have a local origin. These results indicate that microplastics are contaminating the Pantanal and its affluents and eventually can affect the local fauna. More research is needed to understand the extent and possible implications regarding the contamination by microplastics of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the Pantanal.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics pollution in the South American Pantanal
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented microplastic pollution in the South American Pantanal — the world's largest tropical wetland — finding particles in water and sediment samples across the region. The findings are concerning because the Pantanal is a globally important biodiversity hotspot that was assumed to be relatively pristine.
Microplastics pollution in the South American Pantanal
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled microplastics in the affluents and floodplains of the South American Pantanal wetland ecosystem, documenting this emerging threat to one of the world's largest tropical floodplains near urban pollution sources and in remote lowland areas.
Microsynthetics in waters of the South American Pantanal
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled microplastics from water courses, lakes, and floodplains across 16 locations in the South American Pantanal wetland using plankton nets, documenting microplastic contamination in one of the world's largest tropical freshwater ecosystems.
Microplastics in sediments of the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic concentrations, sizes, and distribution factors in fluvial sediments of the Cuiabá River within Brazil's Pantanal Wetlands — the world's largest flooded savanna — finding microplastics present and identifying hydrological and anthropogenic variables influencing their spatial distribution.
Microplastic pollution of Patos Lagoon, south of Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected microplastics for the first time in Patos Lagoon in southern Brazil — the largest lagoon in South America — finding particles of polyethylene and other plastics in filtered water samples, confirming that this major freshwater ecosystem is already contaminated.
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.