Three-dimensional distribution of plastic pellets in sandy beaches: shifting paradigms

• Grant number: 14/05528-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Alexander Turra
• Grantee: Alexander Turra
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Plastic pellets are worldwide contaminants that accumulate in the ocean, especially in sandy beaches, wheretheir historic standing-stock quantification relies on surface sediment samples. We demonstrated theseparticles present a three-dimensional instead of a simple along-across shore distribution, being found asdeep as 2.0 m, with surface layers accounting for,10% of the total abundance in the sediment column. Thisgradient seemed to be more related to oceanographic rather than anthropic processes, suggesting a generalpattern whose applicability to microplastics and sedimentary environments as a whole should beinvestigated. This poses criticism in the exactness of standing-stock records and demands urgent discussionof sampling protocols. (AU)