Do microplastics and persistent organic pollutants bioaccumulate in the deep-sea food web?

• Grant number: 18/19278-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
• Grantee: Gabriel Stefanelli Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Plastic generation has seen an exponential increase over the last 60 years. Over a third of all production is geared towards confection of disposable packaging, with a subsequent portion reaching our oceans due to inefficient recycling and waste management policies. From there, degraded plastic turns into microplastics (MPs) in the form of fibres, pellets and fragments, readily adsorbs environmental hydrophobic compounds known as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and makes its way to the bottom of the sea. It is now expected that a similar concentration of MP fibres is found in both shallow water and oceanic sediments, with possible implications to the benthic and epibenthic fauna across multiple niches. In addition to MPs causing blockage of the digestive tracts in several marine species, POPs are endocrine disruptors with a high tendency to bioaccumulate. The aim of our proposal is to reconstruct portion of a deep-sea megabenthic food web and identify the accumulation MPs and associated POPs across several feeding strategies, a little known and potentially revealing topic. We also hope to visualise MP pollution history via collection specimens. Knowledge of proper waste management and destination is crucial in mitigating future health and environmental issues, and we hope this proposal will pave the way for further discussion and action concerning the conservation of the world's oceans. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PARDO, JUAN C. F.; RAMON, DEBRA; STEFANELLI-SILVA, GABRIEL; ELEGBEDE, ISA; LIMA, LUCIANA S.; PRINCIPE, SILAS C.. Advancing Through the Pandemic From the Perspective of Marine Graduate Researchers: Challenges, Solutions, and Opportunities. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE, v. 7, JUN 24 2020. (18/19278-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Gabriel Stefanelli. Micropollutants in the deep sea: influence of feeding mode on microplastic intake by benthic organisms and detection of persistent organic pollutants in biological and sediment samples. 2024. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC) São Paulo.