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On the importance of size of plastic fragments and pellets on the strandline: a snapshot of a Brazilian beach

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Abstract

Virgin plastic pellets and plastic fragments are reported as ubiquitous beach contaminants in the peer-reviewed literature. A surface density of 0.3 virgin plastic pellets and plastic fragments per square centimeter of the strandline area was registered on an urban beach of the northeast of Brazil. This beach is presently not affected by petrochemical facilities or pellet processing plants. The main source of fragments (96.7%) was attributed to the breaking down of larger plastic items deposited on the beach. In the case of virgin plastic pellets (3.3%), the main sources were the marine environment and possibly nearby port facilities. This category of plastic pollutant offers particular threats to the marine environment and to beach users.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems—LEGECE, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco—UFPE, Av. Arquitetura s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 50740-550, Brazil

    Monica F. Costa, Juliana A. Ivar do Sul, Jacqueline S. Silva-Cavalcanti, Maria Christina B. Araújo & Ângela Spengler

  2. Laboratory of Organic Microcontaminants and Aquatic Ecotoxicology—CONECO, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande—FURG, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Paula S. Tourinho

Authors
  1. Monica F. Costa
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  2. Juliana A. Ivar do Sul
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  3. Jacqueline S. Silva-Cavalcanti
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  4. Maria Christina B. Araújo
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  5. Ângela Spengler
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  6. Paula S. Tourinho
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Correspondence to Monica F. Costa.

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Costa, M.F., Ivar do Sul, J.A., Silva-Cavalcanti, J.S. et al. On the importance of size of plastic fragments and pellets on the strandline: a snapshot of a Brazilian beach. Environ Monit Assess 168, 299–304 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1113-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1113-4

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