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Microplastic pollution on Caribbean beaches in the Lesser Antilles
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Researchers found an average of 261 microplastics per kilogram of dry sand across beaches on four Lesser Antilles islands, with fibres comprising over 95% of particles and concentrations reaching up to 620 microplastics/kg on Saint Martin. Microplastic levels varied significantly among islands, with St. Eustatius showing notably lower contamination than the others.
Here we investigate microplastics contamination on beaches of four islands of the Lesser Antilles (Anguilla, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius and St. Martin/Maarten). These islands are close to the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, which contains high levels of microplastics. On average 261 ± 6 microplastics/kg of dry sand were found, with a maximum of 620 ± 96 microplastics on Grandes Cayes, Saint Martin. The vast majority of these microplastics (>95%) were fibers. Levels of microplastics differed among islands, with significantly lower levels found in St. Eustatius compared to the other Islands. No difference in microplastic levels was found between windward and leeward beaches. Our research provides a detailed study on microplastics on beaches in the Lesser Antilles. These results are important in developing a deeper understanding of the extent of the microplastic challenge within the Caribbean region, a hotspot of biodiversity.
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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.