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A sea of plastic: a 20-year review of the plastic pollution crisis in the Colombian Caribbean
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This literature review evaluated 25 studies on plastic contamination in water, sediments, and marine organisms from the Colombian Caribbean over two decades. The review identified significant discrepancies in sampling protocols and reporting that limit data comparability, calling for standardized methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration to address rising plastic pollution in the region.
Plastics are integral to modern life and are ubiquitous across various environmental matrices. However, their widespread distribution has resulted in persistent contamination, now recognized as a critical environmental issue. Over time, this problem has intensified alongside the exponential increase in plastic production, leading to millions of tons being released into the environment via direct and indirect pathways. This accumulation poses significant risks to marine biota and ecosystem health. Despite ongoing mitigation efforts, projections indicate that plastic pollution will continue to rise in the coming years. The Colombian Caribbean, a region of high biodiversity and diverse industrial activities, has been notably affected by plastic contamination. This literature review aims to evaluate the reported concentrations of micro- and macroplastics in various environmental matrices within the Colombian Caribbean by systematically analyzing studies published over the past two decades. A total of 25 studies investigating plastic pollution in water, sediments, and marine organisms were examined. Additionally, this review evaluates the methodologies employed across these studies, revealing discrepancies in sampling protocols, laboratory analyses, and units of reporting. The lack of standardization in these aspects limits the comparability of results, underscoring the urgent need for harmonized methodologies. To enhance the reliability and comparability of future research on plastic pollution, this review proposes key measures for standardizing sampling techniques, analytical procedures, and data reporting. Furthermore, the promotion of interdisciplinary collaborations, policy development, and educational programs is recommended to address the growing plastic pollution problem in the Colombian Caribbean and mitigate its long-term environmental impacts.
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This review summarized the state of microplastic research in Colombia's coastal areas, finding that Caribbean coasts are most contaminated with secondary polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics in sediments, and that 7% of 302 fish species sampled contained microplastics, while noting a lack of standardized methods across studies.
Invisible Footprints: Exploring Microplastic Pollution in the Colombian Caribbean Sea
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Researchers documented microplastic contamination throughout the surface and mid-waters of the Colombian Caribbean, detecting plastic particles in every single water sample collected across 16 stations in two departments. Concentrations were higher near the coast and in areas with strong river influence, with fibers and fragments of PET and polypropylene most common, and several rare high-risk polymers also detected. As one of the first systematic studies of its kind in this region, the work establishes baseline data for a relatively understudied stretch of the Caribbean and identifies urban river inputs as a key contamination driver.
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This Spanish-language review paper examines microplastics as an emerging and poorly understood threat to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It synthesizes evidence on microplastic distribution, persistence, and biological impacts across multiple species and environments, framing the issue as an urgent ecological concern that warrants greater scientific and regulatory attention.
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Researchers surveyed plastic litter pollution on 43 beaches along Colombia's Caribbean and Pacific coasts, documenting the types and quantities present and calling for locally adapted management strategies.
Abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in coastal surface waters of the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.