Understanding microplastic pollution in surface waters in the Corumbataí River basin due to the presence of urban areas and sugarcane crops

• Grant number: 24/09058-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Resources
• Principal Investigator: Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição
• Grantee: Bianca Sacaro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), including tire wear particles (TWPs), are emerging pollutants that can be found in the aquatic environment. Although studies in the area have focused on marine environments, rivers are directly influenced by human action and are significant for the characterization of these pollutants, since agricultural and industrial activities and the release of domestic effluents in natura are associated with the presence of MPs in waters. The study area chosen was the Corumbataí River basin, included in UGRHI 5, which includes different land uses and occupations: urbanized and environmentally protected areas (APAs), industrial and agricultural activities. Thus, it is expected that sampling in different areas of the studied basin, at different times of the year, i.e., in rainy, intermediate and dry periods, will reveal how the diverse use of land influences the presence of MPs in the river waters of the river basin. Corumbataí River. The samples will be treated with hydrogen peroxide at 60 oC and, subsequently, zinc chloride will be added until the density of the mixture reaches 1.6 g/cm3. The mixture will be homogenized and after 24 h of sedimentation, the supernatant will be filtered through cellulose nitrate membranes, which will be dried in Petri dishes. The MPs will be quantified and characterized in river water samples, where the results obtained can provide important information for the management of water resources and for the River Basin Committees of the state of São Paulo.