Microplastics in Santos Sao Vicente estuarine

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant class of contaminants due to their widespread presence in various environmental compartments. The ingestion of these particles poses a risk to both human health and the local biota. The investigation of the Santos estuary reveals the abundance of microplastics in the mangrove sediment. The highest concentration was 62,850–93,050 MPs⋅kg􀀀 1dw, never seen before in Latin America coast. The region investigated is characterized for silting sites and low energy events, notably Rio dos Bugres, influenced by anthropic aspects, while the S˜ao Vicente e Santos channels prevail the high energy hydrodynamic regime. In consequence, the MPs are entrapped in the interior of the estuary, affecting drastically the biota of mangrove. Spectroscopic investigation identified: polymers, pigments, herbicide and additives. The hypothesis is that densely populated siltation areas combined with low-energy events serve along the estuary for MPs accumulation and hotspots formation.