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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics and the Amazon: from the Rivers to the Estuary
ClearThe first report on the source-to-sink characterization of microplastic pollution from a riverine environment in tropical India
This first source-to-sink study of microplastic pollution in a tropical Indian river system tracked microplastics from urban sources through the river to estuarine and coastal deposition zones, characterizing polymer types and morphologies at each stage.
Preliminary Assessment of Plastic Litter and Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Depositional Areas: The Case Study of Puerto Misahualli, Ecuadorian Amazonia
Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of plastic litter and microplastics in sediments at a riverine depositional area in the Ecuadorian Amazon, finding low-density polyethylene bags as the dominant macroplastic and documenting microplastic presence in an upper Amazon basin location.
Microplastics and microfibers in the Guajará Bay, Amazon delta: Potential sources and variability
This study assessed microplastic and microfiber distribution in Guajará Bay at the mouth of the Amazon delta, finding concentrations ranging widely but clustering near the urbanized bank of the bay. Most particles were anthropogenic cellulose fibers, with PET and polyamide as the dominant synthetic polymers, and levels were highest close to the city of Belém. The Amazon's enormous flow to the Atlantic makes understanding plastic sources and transport here critical for estimating global ocean microplastic inputs.
Microplastics in distal sediments from the mouth of the Amazon River
Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of microplastic distribution in distal marine sediments near the mouth of the Amazon River, examining how the Amazon plume — a major source of plastic additives in the tropical North Atlantic — contributes to regional microplastic deposition patterns.
Microplastics in distal sediments from the mouth of the Amazon River
Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of microplastic distribution in distal sediments from the mouth of the Amazon River, motivated by prior evidence that the Amazon plume is the largest source of organic plastic additives in the tropical North Atlantic region.
Transport processes of microplastic particles in the fluvial environment : erosion, transport and deposition
This thesis examines how microplastics are eroded, transported, and deposited in river systems, tracing their movement from land sources to the ocean. The research fills an important gap in understanding how rivers act as conduits for microplastic pollution and what processes determine where plastic particles accumulate in freshwater environments.
Plastic debris in rivers
This review synthesizes current knowledge on plastic debris in rivers, covering sources, transport mechanisms, ecological impacts, and the role of rivers in delivering plastic to the oceans. The authors highlight key knowledge gaps and emphasize that riverine ecosystems are directly harmed by plastic pollution, not merely transit corridors.
From pollution to solutions: Insights into the sources, transport and management of plastic debris in pristine and urban rivers
This review examines how river systems receive and transport plastic debris -- including both macroplastics and microplastics -- from land sources to the ocean, synthesizing evidence on pollution sources, fate, and management strategies across pristine and urban rivers.
First evidence of microplastic ingestion by fishes from the Amazon River estuary
Researchers documented the first evidence of microplastic ingestion by fish in the Amazon River estuary, finding plastic particles — predominantly polyamide and polyethylene pellets — in 30% of 189 specimens across 14 species, with larger fish containing more particles, indicating widespread contamination extending into one of the world's most biodiverse river systems.
Plastic and Microplastic in the Environment
This review summarizes the sources, pathways, analytical methods, and distribution of microplastics in freshwater environments, emphasizing that rivers and lakes are major conduits transferring plastic pollution from terrestrial sources to the oceans.
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.
A baseline study of macro, meso and micro litter in the Belize River basin, from catchment to coast
Researchers conducted a baseline survey of macro, meso, and micro litter throughout the Belize River basin from inland catchments to the coast, documenting plastic as the dominant litter type and identifying rivers as key conduits transporting terrestrial plastic waste to coastal waters.
Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments with special emphasis on riverine systems: Current understanding and way forward
This review examines microplastic pollution in freshwater riverine systems, which serve as a critical link between terrestrial and marine environments. Researchers found that rivers are significantly contaminated with microplastics of varying sizes and morphologies, and that these particles can exhibit variable toxicity to aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for more research on freshwater microplastic impacts.
Microplastics in Freshwater River in Rio de Janeiro and Its Role as a Source of Microplastic Pollution in Guanabara Bay, SE Brazil
Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in three rivers flowing into Guanabara Bay, Brazil, with an average of 3,651 particles per cubic meter dominated by fibers, identifying these freshwater systems as major sources of coastal microplastic pollution.
Microplastic pollution in the Amazon Basin: Current scenario, advances and perspectives
Researchers reviewed all available studies on microplastic pollution in the Amazon Basin and found that contamination is widespread despite limited research, with only four of the nine basin countries having published data. Microplastic levels in some Amazon waterways were comparable to heavily industrialized regions like China's Yellow River, with poor sanitation infrastructure and extensive river networks acting as key factors. The study highlights major gaps in monitoring across large portions of the Amazon and calls for coordinated regional research efforts.
Large-scale monitoring and risk assessment of microplastics in the Amazon River
Researchers conducted the largest microplastic monitoring study in the Amazon River, sampling 40 sites across 1,500 kilometers. Microplastics were found everywhere, with urban streams near cities showing concentrations up to 1,000 times higher than the main river. This study confirms that even remote freshwater ecosystems like the Amazon are contaminated with microplastics, which could affect the fish and water that local communities depend on.
A critical review of environmental factors influencing the transport dynamics of microplastics in riverine systems: implications for ecological studies
This review examines how environmental factors like river flow, channel shape, vegetation, and sediment influence where microplastics accumulate and how they travel through river systems. The authors found that microplastic transport is far more complex than previously assumed, with particles behaving differently based on their size, shape, and density. Understanding these dynamics is essential for predicting where microplastics end up and designing effective cleanup strategies.
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.
Habitat Integrity and Microplastic Contamination in Amazonian Streams: Assessment of Water, Sediment, and Fish and Identification of Predominant Polymers
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in Amazonian streams by sampling water, sediment, and fish, and characterised predominant polymer types, finding that contamination was widespread across all environmental compartments regardless of habitat integrity, suggesting that even well-preserved stream habitats are not protected from microplastic pollution.
First assessment of microplastic and artificial microfiber contamination in surface waters of the Amazon Continental Shelf
Researchers characterized microplastics in surface water of the Amazon Continental Shelf for the first time, finding particles at all 57 sampling sites with higher concentrations during the rainy season. Polyamide, polyurethane, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene were the most common polymer types, and concentrations were highest near river mouths and coastal cities.
Microplastics in the Amazon biome: State of the art and future priorities
This review examines microplastic pollution in the Amazon region and finds contamination levels comparable to heavily polluted areas worldwide. Poor sanitation is a major source, with fibers being the most common particle type found in water, sediment, and wildlife. Despite the Amazon's global ecological importance, research on microplastics there has been very limited, and the authors call for urgent expansion of scientific monitoring.
Effect of microplastics pollution in riverine ecosystem: A review
This review covers microplastic contamination in riverine ecosystems, discussing the diverse forms of microplastics -- including threads, fragments, films, and pellets -- their ingestion by aquatic organisms, long-distance transport, and accumulation in sediments.
Microplastics in tropical Andean rivers: A perspective from a highly populated Ecuadorian basin without wastewater treatment
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in a highly populated Ecuadorian river basin that lacks wastewater treatment, finding contamination throughout the system and demonstrating that rivers in low-income tropical countries with poor infrastructure are major conduits for microplastics.
Microplastics in sediment samples from the mouth of the Amazon River
Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in sediment samples from the mouth of the Amazon River, collecting ten samples across the North and South Channels in October to address a significant data gap in Brazilian continental aquatic environments.