Evolution of microplastic input in marine sediments under the influence of the Amazon River

• Grant number: 24/15012-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Dailson Jose Bertassoli Junior
• Grantee: Pedro Pereira Paccagnella
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/06440-1 - Wetland expansion in Amazonia during the late Holocene and its implications to the global methane budget, AP.GR

Abstract

The aim of this project is to investigate the sedimentation of microplastics (MPs) in coastal regions influenced by the Amazon River sediment plume and to analyze the temporal variation in the deposition of these microparticles. Since the onset of mass plastic production in the 20th century, millions of tons of plastic waste have accumulated annually in the oceans, posing significant risks to marine ecosystems and human health. Although recent studies have indicated the presence of MPs in the waters of the Amazon River, the dynamics of deposition of these particles in adjacent marine sediments over time remain poorly understood. This project aims to address this gap by quantifying and characterizing MPs in marine sediment samples collected at the mouth of the Amazon River, using confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) techniques to identify different types of polymers. The expected results include the identification of temporal variations in MP deposition and the correlation of these data with environmental and historical parameters. This study will contribute to a better understanding of MP pollution and its environmental impact in the Amazon region, providing valuable information for future mitigation and environmental management strategies.