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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to From urban areas to conservation unities: assessing microplastic pollution across the Pantanal
ClearMicroplastics pollution in the South American Pantanal
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.
Effect of urbanization and water quality on microplastic distribution in Conceição Lagoon watershed, Brazil
Researchers assessed microplastic distribution across urbanized and non-urbanized tributaries of Conceicao Lagoon watershed in Brazil. The study found that while urbanization significantly affected water quality parameters, it did not always correspond to higher microplastic concentrations. Evidence indicates that microplastic pollution in freshwater systems is influenced by multiple factors beyond urbanization alone, complicating simple predictions about contamination patterns.
Microsynthetics in waters of the South American Pantanal
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 a mosaic of Marine Protected Areas from southeastern Brazil: An assessment based on filter-feeding bivalves
Researchers used filter-feeding bivalves as biological monitors to assess microplastic contamination across 28 marine protected areas along a heavily populated stretch of coastline in southeastern Brazil. They found microplastics in bivalves from all sites surveyed, demonstrating that protected status alone does not shield marine areas from plastic pollution. The study highlights how diffuse, transboundary plastic contamination reaches even designated conservation zones.
Microplastics in sediments of the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil
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.
Microplastics Identification in an Environmental Reserve Area of Ilha de Itamaracá - PE
Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in water, sediment, and biota from an environmental reserve area in Brazil, documenting contamination by particles originating from both fragmentation of larger plastic items and primary microplastics, showing that even protected coastal areas are not free of MP pollution.
How natural and anthropogenic factors should drive microplastic behavior and fate: The scenario of Brazilian urban freshwater
This review examines the factors driving microplastic contamination in Brazilian freshwater systems, including the country's massive plastic production and limited recycling infrastructure. Researchers highlight that more than half of post-consumer plastic packaging in Brazil goes unmonitored, and most microplastic research has focused on marine environments while freshwater data remains scarce. The study calls for more systematic monitoring of Brazilian rivers and lakes, especially given the country's continental-scale waterways and diverse ecosystems.
The urban microplastic footprint: investigating the distribution and transport
Researchers investigated the distribution and transport of microplastics within an urban environment, mapping the 'urban microplastic footprint' to understand how city infrastructure and land use patterns drive the spatial distribution and downstream export of plastic particles to receiving water bodies.
Microplastic pollution in water environment of typical nature reserves and scenery districts in southern China
Researchers measured microplastic abundance and polymer composition in water from 11 nature reserves and scenic districts in southern China, detecting microplastics in all samples with variation related to proximity to human activities. The findings fill a knowledge gap on microplastic contamination in protected natural areas and reveal that even remote reserves are not free from plastic pollution.
An Examination of Microplastic Pollution in Protected Areas from Outdoor Recreation
Microplastics were found in soils from protected natural areas frequently visited by outdoor recreationists, suggesting that even conservation lands and wilderness parks are not insulated from plastic pollution carried in by human visitors.
Benthic macroinvertebrates and microplastic contamination in contrasting water quality environments of the Middle Tietê River basin (São Paulo, Brazil)
Researchers compared microplastic contamination in benthic invertebrates and sediments between a heavily polluted urban river and a cleaner tributary in São Paulo, Brazil. Higher microplastic concentrations were found near urban areas, confirming that human activity drives plastic accumulation in freshwater ecosystems.
Comparison of microplastic pollution in different water bodies from urban creeks to coastal waters
Microplastics were surveyed across a gradient of water body types in the Yangtze Delta area—from city creeks to rivers, estuary, and coastal sea—finding higher concentrations in freshwater (1.8–2.4 items/L) than estuarine/coastal water (0.9 items/L) and a dilution gradient from urban to marine environments. The study provides systematic data on how microplastic concentrations change along the freshwater-to-ocean continuum in a densely urbanized region.
Effect of urbanization and water quality on microplastic distribution in Conceição Lagoon watershed, Brazil
A study of a Brazilian lagoon watershed found that urbanization significantly degraded water quality but did not clearly increase microplastic concentrations in tributary streams. Microplastic levels in the lagoon itself were correlated with indicators of wastewater discharge, and wind and rainfall influenced their distribution.
Abundance and characterization of microplastic pollution in the wildlife reserve, Ramsar site, recreational areas, and national park in northern Jakarta and Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia
This is the first study to measure microplastic pollution in sediments across protected areas near Jakarta, Indonesia, including a wildlife reserve, a Ramsar wetland site, and a marine national park. Microplastics were found at all locations, with higher concentrations closer to human activity and during the dry season. The results suggest that even designated conservation areas are not spared from microplastic contamination.
Quantitative Analysis of Urban Microplastic Dissemination and Accumulation in Marine Ecosystems: Pathways, Processes, and Impacts
Researchers used water and sediment sampling across urban, riverine, and marine environments to quantify microplastic pathways from cities into marine ecosystems, finding the highest concentrations in urban areas linked to industrial activity and poor waste management. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET were the most common polymer types, with seasonal peaks in concentration tracking periods of high rainfall and urban runoff.
Microplastic pollution differences in freshwater river according to stream order: Insights from spatial distribution, annual load, and ecological assessment
Researchers compared microplastic pollution levels in a freshwater river across different land-use zones, finding higher concentrations near urban and agricultural areas than in forested regions. Fiber-type microplastics were predominant across all sampling locations.
A Comparative Assessment of Microplastic Abundance in Conservation vs. Residential Coastal Sediments in Bitung, North Sulawesi Indonesia
Researchers compared microplastic abundance in coastal sediments at a nature reserve versus an industrial port in Bitung, North Sulawesi, finding significantly higher levels at the industrial site and raising concerns about plastic intrusion into protected areas.
Meso- and microplastic composition, distribution patterns and drivers: A snapshot of plastic pollution on Brazilian beaches
A standardized survey of plastic pollution across 22 sandy beaches spanning over 4600 km of Brazilian coast found widespread contamination in coastal sediments, with polymer type, size, and distribution patterns reflecting diverse sources including fishing activity and urban runoff.
Tracking Microplastics in Paradise: First Evidence of Pollution in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (Maranhão, Brazil), a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution in Lencois Maranhenses National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Brazil, documenting MP presence, characteristics, and potential sources in this previously unstudied protected coastal ecosystem.
Relative contributions of different local sources to riverborne microplastic in a mixed landuse area within a tropical catchment
Researchers quantified the relative contributions of different land-use sources to riverborne microplastics in a tropical catchment, providing data to help prioritize pollution reduction measures for protecting human and ecological health.
Integrated occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern, including microplastics, in urban and agricultural watersheds in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
Researchers measured contamination from microplastics and other emerging pollutants in both urban and agricultural watersheds in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. They found microplastics in all sampled locations, along with pesticides, caffeine, and other chemicals, with pollution patterns differing between urban and farming areas. The study shows that microplastic contamination is widespread in Brazilian water systems used for drinking and irrigation, contributing to human exposure through multiple pathways.
Quantitative Analysis of Urban Microplastic Dissemination and Accumulation in Marine Ecosystems: Pathways, Processes, and Impacts
Researchers conducted quantitative water and sediment sampling across urban, riverine, and marine environments to trace microplastic transport pathways from cities into marine ecosystems. They found microplastics in all sampled environments — highest in urban areas — with polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET most prevalent, and documented ingestion evidence across marine species alongside seasonal concentration peaks correlated with rainfall-driven urban runoff.
Spatial analysis of the influence on “microplastic communities” in the water at a medium scale
Spatial analysis of microplastic communities in Hubei Province, China found that microplastics were more abundant in rivers than lakes (average 1.74 items/L), negatively correlated with distance from residential areas, and that anthropogenic land cover increased abundance while natural vegetation decreased it.
Microplastics pollution and risk assessment in water bodies of two nature reserves in Jilin Province: Correlation analysis with the degree of human activity
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the waters of two nature reserves in northeastern China and found contamination at all sampling sites, with abundances correlated to the degree of nearby human activity. Fiber-shaped microplastics were the most prevalent type, and risk assessment indicated moderate ecological concern in some areas. The study demonstrates that even protected natural areas are not immune to microplastic pollution, particularly when human activities occur nearby.