Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in marine and estuarine samples

This study characterized microplastics from marine and estuarine environments in Brazil, finding primary microplastics (pellets and beads) alongside secondary particles formed from degradation of discarded plastic. The work highlights the diverse sources and types of microplastic pollution in South American coastal waters.

2021 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

Distribution and occurrence of microplastics in estuaries of São José Bay, Brazilian equatorial margin

Researchers examined the distribution and occurrence of microplastics in estuaries of São José Bay on the Brazilian equatorial margin, characterizing MP abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple sampling sites.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Litter assessment on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast: a large-scale analysis of macrolitter and microplastics

Researchers conducted a large-scale assessment of macrolitter and microplastic contamination on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast, characterizing pollution patterns, dominant polymer types, and potential anthropogenic sources across multiple sites.

2025 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in the sediments of a highly eutrophic tropical estuary

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in sublittoral sediments of Guanabara Bay, a highly eutrophic tropical estuary in Brazil, finding widespread contamination with fibers and fragments at concentrations reflecting the bay's heavy urbanization and poor waste management.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 106 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in marine and estuarine environments: bibliographic review, distribution (Ilha Grande Bay - RJ), biofilm composition (Guanabara Bay - RJ) and changes in sinking rate

This work reviewed microplastic distribution in Brazilian marine and estuarine environments, surveyed Ilha Grande Bay, analyzed plastisphere biofilm communities in Guanabara Bay, and examined how biofilm colonization affects microplastic sinking rates. Biological coating of plastic particles changes their transport and fate in the ocean.

2023 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Zooplankton exposure to microplastic contamination in a estuarine plume-influenced region, in Northeast Brazil

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in estuarine plume waters off the coast of northeastern Brazil and its relationship with zooplankton. The study found significantly higher microplastic abundance during the high rainfall season, with fibers and fragments being the dominant types, and elevated concentrations in river plume areas compared to reef-adjacent waters, indicating land-based sources as major contributors.

2023 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on Santos Beach: Sources of Pollution, Waste Characteristics and Possible Collection Solutions

Researchers characterized microplastics collected from three zones of Santos beach in Brazil, finding contamination dominated by fragments and films near sewage outfalls. The study highlights inadequate waste management as the primary driver of beach microplastic accumulation and assessed feasibility of mechanical collection interventions.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Micro 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in brazilian marine environments: a study on beaches in São Francisco do Sul - SC

Beach surveys along São Francisco do Sul in southern Brazil confirmed widespread microplastic presence in coastal sediments, with polymer composition reflecting regional plastic waste streams. The study adds to the body of evidence that Brazilian coastlines are significantly contaminated and calls for national monitoring standards to track and manage the problem.

2023 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in fish, water, and sediment surrounding Ubatuba beaches, Southeastern Brazil

Simultaneous analysis of microplastic contamination in fish (Atherinella brasiliensis), water, and sediment at three Ubatuba beaches in Brazil captured spatial and seasonal variations across exposed, calm, and sheltered estuary environments. The integrated approach confirmed fish ingestion of microplastics and revealed correlations between environmental presence and biotic uptake across seasons.

2024 Neotropical Ichthyology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Widespread microplastics distribution at an Amazon macrotidal sandy beach

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination at a macrotidal sandy beach on the Amazon coast of Brazil, detecting an average of 492.5 particles per square meter with fibers dominating across three depth strata down to 60 cm.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic waste in surface waters of an urban estuary

Researchers assessed plastic waste in the surface waters of the Capibaribe River estuary in Brazil, cataloguing 381 macroplastic items (mostly soft fragments at 83.9%) and 1,757 microplastic particles concentrated in the upper and middle estuary, with advanced degradation stages observed across 90.5% of collected debris.

2023 Marine and Freshwater Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence, distribution, and zonation at Paraná’s beaches—South of Brazil

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic distribution and zonation on beaches in Paraná state, southern Brazil, characterizing MP concentrations, polymer types, and morphologies across multiple beach zones to establish a baseline for this understudied South American coastline.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A first assessment of microplastic abundance in sandy beach sediments of the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, South Brazil (RAMSAR site)

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic abundance in sandy beach sediments at 19 sites within the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex in South Brazil, finding 398 microplastic particles dominated by foam, hard fragments, and paint chips across this ecologically sensitive RAMSAR-listed wetland.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics in Brazilian rivers: An overview and a study of floating particle accumulation on the coast of Santa Catarina state

This review of 35 studies found widespread microplastic contamination across Brazilian rivers, with polyethylene and polypropylene fibers being the most common types. Mathematical modeling of floating particle dispersion along the Santa Catarina coast revealed specific accumulation zones, highlighting how river-borne microplastics concentrate in coastal areas where people live and fish.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surface waters of tropical estuaries around a densely populated Brazilian bay

Researchers found extremely high microplastic concentrations (up to 33,000 items per cubic meter) in ten estuaries around Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil, largely driven by deficient domestic wastewater treatment serving over 3 million residents.

2023 Environmental Pollution 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Hotspots on a Tropical Estuarine-Bay System

Researchers mapped microplastic hotspots in the Santos Estuarine System in Brazil — the most populous estuary and largest seaport in the country — characterizing accumulation and export dynamics of microplastics in a high-traffic coastal environment.

2025
Article Tier 2

Distribution patterns of microplastics within the plankton of a tropical estuary

Microplastics were found throughout a tropical Brazilian estuary across different seasons and zones, with densities roughly half those of fish larvae and comparable to fish egg densities. The results raise the possibility that microplastics compete with or are mistaken for natural food items by larval fish in this ecologically critical nursery habitat.

2014 Environmental Research 437 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of the occurrence of microplastics in beach sand on the Brazilian coast

Researchers evaluated microplastic occurrence in beach sand along the Brazilian coastline using a simplified methodology. The study found widespread microplastic contamination and identified potential pollution sources linked to coastal urbanization and ocean currents.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Caracterização de microplásticos em amostras marinhas e estuarinas

This study characterized microplastics collected from marine and estuarine samples in Brazil, classifying them by size, shape, and polymer type. The findings document the widespread presence of microplastic contamination in these coastal ecosystems and provide baseline data for future monitoring.

2021
Article Tier 2

Characterization of environmental microplastics present in unconsolidated sediments in coastal waters of 9 beaches on shoreline of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Researchers characterized environmental microplastics in unconsolidated sediments from nine beaches along the southern coast of Brazil, identifying particle abundance, morphology, color, and polymer composition. The study documented widespread microplastic contamination at all sampled coastal sites, with fragments and fibers being the dominant morphological types found in the sediment samples.

2024 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)