We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Three-dimensional distribution of plastic pellets in sandy beaches: shifting paradigms.
- Authors
Turra, Alexander; Manzano, Aruanã B.; Dias, Rodolfo Jasã o S.; Mahiques, Michel M.; Barbosa, Lucas; Balthazar-Silva, Danilo; Moreira, Fabiana T.
- Abstract
Plastic pellets are worldwide contaminants that accumulate in the ocean, especially in sandy beaches, where their historic standing-stock quantification relies on surface sediment samples. We demonstrated these particles present a three-dimensional instead of a simple along-across shore distribution, being found as deep as 2.0 m, with surface layers accounting for <10% of the total abundance in the sediment column. This gradient seemed to be more related to oceanographic rather than anthropic processes, suggesting a general pattern whose applicability to microplastics and sedimentary environments as a whole should be investigated. This poses criticism in the exactness of standing-stock records and demands urgent discussion of sampling protocols.
- Subjects
HAZARDOUS wastes; POLYETHYLENE; INTERPOLATION; HEAVY minerals; POLYCHLORINATED biphenyls
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2014, p1
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/srep04435