Papers

Influence of trophic overlaps and trophic niche amplitude on microplastic intake of fish species in shallow areas of a neotropical coastal lagoon

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in six fish species from a coastal lagoon in Brazil and found that species sharing the same food sources tended to ingest similar amounts of microplastic fibers. Blue polyester fibers smaller than 0.05 mm were the most common type found, likely from textile pollution. Since fish dietary habits determine their microplastic intake, this affects which fish species accumulate more plastic particles and what ultimately ends up on people's plates.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) adsorbed to polyethylene microplastics: Accumulation and ecotoxicological effects in the clam Scrobicularia plana

Researchers exposed clams to polyethylene microplastics of two sizes, with and without adsorbed PFOS, over 14 days to assess accumulation and toxicity. The study found that microplastic ingestion and PFOS accumulation were size-dependent, with both types of microplastics generating reactive oxygen species and disrupting antioxidant systems in gill and digestive gland tissues, confirming that microplastics can act as vectors for persistent chemical pollutants in marine bivalves.

Single and combined chronic toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNP) and clothianidin on collembolans and enchytraeids

Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles and a common pesticide affect soil creatures that are important for healthy ecosystems. They found that when these two pollutants are combined, they become more harmful than when alone - even at levels that seemed safe individually. This matters because humans are also exposed to both microplastics and pesticides in our food and environment, suggesting these combinations could pose greater health risks than we previously understood.

Plastic Interactions with Brazilian Aquatic Organisms: A Systematic Review of Research Trends and Knowledge Gaps

This systematic review summarizes research on how plastic pollution interacts with aquatic organisms across Brazil's rivers, coasts, and oceans. It identifies major knowledge gaps, including limited studies on microplastic effects in freshwater species and a lack of standardized methods. Understanding these interactions matters because contaminated fish and shellfish can carry microplastics into the human food chain.

Ingestion of Microplastic by Fish of Different Feeding Habits in Urbanized and Non-urbanized Streams in Southern Brazil

What are the toxicological effects of mixing nanoplastics with a nanopesticide on Daphnia magna and Aliivibrio fischeri?

Scientists tested what happens when tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) mix with a common pesticide in water using small water creatures as test subjects. They found that the combination was more toxic than either pollutant alone, causing serious harm to reproduction and growth even at very low levels. This matters because these same pollutants are building up in our water systems and food chain, potentially affecting human health through the water we drink and seafood we eat.

Spatio-seasonal microplastics distribution along a shallow coastal lagoon ecocline within a marine conservation unit

Researchers conducted monthly sampling along a shallow coastal lagoon ecocline in a Brazilian marine conservation unit and found seasonal variation in microplastic abundance driven by rainfall and river inputs, with polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments dominating the samples.

Composition and spatial distribution of floating plastic debris along the estuarine ecocline of a subtropical coastal lagoon in the Western Atlantic

Researchers found microplastic densities of 7.32 particles per square meter in a subtropical Brazilian coastal lagoon, with plastic filaments — primarily polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene — being the most abundant type, concentrated near the access channel.

Marine debris ingestion by the South American Fur Seal from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

Marine debris was found in 7% of South American fur seals examined from beaches in Argentina and Brazil, with plastic being the most common type. While the ingestion rate was relatively low, the findings confirm that this marine mammal species is exposed to plastic pollution throughout its range.

Ecology of microplastics contamination within food webs of estuarine and coastal ecosystems

This paper describes a methodology for studying how microplastics are distributed seasonally and spatially through an estuary food web, from zooplankton to demersal fish. Understanding the ecology of microplastic transfer in estuaries is essential for assessing human dietary exposure through seafood from these highly productive environments.

Interannual and Seasonal Variations in Estuarine Water Quality

Water quality in the Goiana River estuary in Brazil was monitored over multiple years, revealing that both seasonal rainfall patterns and local human activities drive pollution levels. Estuaries like the Goiana are important pathways for land-based microplastic pollution entering the ocean.

Concepts and Trends for Extraction and Application of Microalgae Carbohydrates

This review covers how carbohydrates from microalgae can be extracted and used in health, food, and industrial applications. Microalgae research is relevant to microplastics because algae are sensitive to plastic particle toxicity and because algal coatings on microplastics affect how marine organisms interact with them.

FOSSIL FUELS AND IMPACTS ON MARINE LIFE

This Brazilian thesis examines how fossil fuel spills and emissions harm marine life, covering contamination from oil platforms, tankers, and offshore drilling. While focused on petroleum rather than microplastics, the research addresses related threats to marine ecosystems from the fossil fuel industry that also produces plastic feedstocks.

Relationships Between Benthic Infauna and Groundwater Eutrophication On A Sandy Beach in Southern Brazil

This study investigated the relationship between benthic invertebrates living in sandy beach sediments and groundwater contamination in a coastal area of southern Brazil affected by urban expansion and inadequate sewage disposal. Elevated nutrient levels from contaminated groundwater influenced the diversity and abundance of beach-dwelling organisms.