First Evidence of High Microplastic Concentrations in Estuarine Litter Windrows of a World Heritage Site: The Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, Brazil

IF 3.8 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Pub Date : 2025-03-31 DOI:10.1007/s11270-025-07899-y

Allan Paul Krelling, Fernanda Eria Possatto, Gabrielly Rodrigues Anhaia Maia, Koiti Araki, Guilherme Bordin Ranea Olivieri, Helton Pereira Nogueira

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Abstract

Transitional ecosystems, such as estuaries, are among the most susceptible regions to plastic pollution. The objective of this project is determining the occurrence and spatial distribution of Microplastics (MPs) and the presence of litter windrows as potential hotspots of MPs on the water surface of a subtropical estuarine complex. In 2022, 14 surface water (< 0.20 m) samples were collected with a trawl net called NOIVA. Each trawl was carried out at a speed of 5 km/h, for 5 min, always on the neap tide, along the Paranaguá Estuary Complex (PEC). In the laboratory the samples were sieved through 1 mm stainless steel mesh. The items were visually inspected through a stereomicroscope to select potential microplastics. The hot needle test and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared was applied to confirm the composition of items. Statistical analyses were performed (PERMANOVA and CAP). A total of 40 MPs were found in all sectors. Fragments are the most frequent (70%). Secondary MPs represented 95% of the items, among which the most common are 3–4 mm large (35%) and white (27.5%) particles. Polypropylene (PP) was the most common type (42.5%). The average concentration of MPs in the PEC (0.149 ± 0.37 mp/m3) is comparable to that found in other estuaries. Estuarine litter windrows (ELWs) play an important role in the accumulation of floating MPs in the PEC (1.42 mp/m3). The omnipresence of MPs at a World Heritage Site is alarming. There is an urgent demand for pollution control, especially regarding adequate waste management strategies to reduce the presence of marine litter.

Graphical Abstract

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河口等过渡生态系统是最容易受到塑料污染的地区之一。该项目的目标是确定微塑料（MPs）的出现和空间分布，以及亚热带河口综合体水面上作为微塑料潜在热点的垃圾堆的存在。2022 年，使用名为 NOIVA 的拖网采集了 14 个地表水（0.20 米）样本。每次拖网以 5 公里/小时的速度进行，持续 5 分钟，每次都是在巴拉那瓜河口综合体（PEC）沿岸的新潮时进行。在实验室中，样品通过 1 毫米的不锈钢网筛分。用体视显微镜对样品进行目测，以筛选出潜在的微塑料。采用热针测试和衰减全反射傅立叶变换红外线来确认物品的成分。进行了统计分析（PERMANOVA 和 CAP）。在所有区域共发现 40 种 MP。碎片最多（70%）。次级 MP 占 95%，其中最常见的是 3-4 毫米大的颗粒（35%）和白色颗粒（27.5%）。聚丙烯（PP）是最常见的类型（42.5%）。PEC 中 MP 的平均浓度（0.149 ± 0.37 mp/m3）与其他河口的浓度相当。河口垃圾堆（ELWs）在 PEC 漂浮的 MPs 累积（1.42 mp/m3）中发挥了重要作用。在世界遗产地无处不在的 MPs 令人震惊。迫切需要控制污染，特别是采取适当的废物管理战略，以减少海洋垃圾的存在。

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来源期刊

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

6.90%

发文量

448

审稿时长

2.6 months

期刊介绍： Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments. Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.