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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

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics on insular beaches in the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean

2017
Juliana A. Ivar do Sul, Monica Costa, Gilberto Fillmann

Summary

Researchers found microplastics on beaches of three remote Atlantic islands — Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos, and Trindade — with plastic fragments predominating over fibers, demonstrating that even isolated island beaches far from population centers accumulate ocean plastic debris.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics are widespread throughout oceans and seas and beaches are no exceptions. On beach sediments, microplastics (<5mm) are commonly prevalent over macroplastics (>5mm), where fragments of larger items are sampled in greater amounts. The occurrence and characteristics of microplastics were investigated on beaches of Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos and Trindade islands located in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean. Despite no microplastic was identified in Abrolhos at this time, small spatial variations were detected in Fernando de Noronha and Trindade islands, highlighting the importance of oceanographic variables on plastics distribution and accumulation over time.

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