Microplastics in marine sponges (Porifera) along a highly urbanized estuarine gradient in Santos, Brazil

Autor(es)

Ribeiro, Victor Vasques ; Casado-Coy, Nuria ; Salani, Sula ; De-la-Torre, Gabriel Enrique ; Sanz-Lazaro, Carlos ; Castro, Italo Braga

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Marine Pollution Bulletin; v. 208, p. 10-pg., 2024-10-02.

Resumo

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitously found in environmental matrices, particularly affecting aquatic systems. While several marine species have been widely used to assess MP contamination, sponges (Porifera) are less used. The MPs contamination was assessed in the sun sponge (Hymeniacidon heliophila) along a gradient at the Santos Estuarine System (Brazil). A 14-fold difference between concentrations (particles g- 1) was verified between the most (1.40 +/- 0.81) and least (0.10 +/- 0.12) contaminated sites, confirming the local contamination gradient. The MPs found were primarily polypropylene, small (1.2-1000 mu m), fibrous, and colored. Considering total concentrations, sizes and shapes these spatial patterns were similar those previously detected in molluscs obtained in the same sites. On the other hand, they differed in polymeric composition and color categories. Such findings give important initial insights into the potential role of marine sponges as putative sentinels of MPs contamination. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 22/14011-3 - Moluscos bivalves como sentinelas contemporâneos e históricos da contaminação por microplásticos
• Beneficiário: Ítalo Braga de Castro
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 22/08669-6 - Moluscos bivalves como sentinelas contemporâneos e históricos da contaminação por microplásticos
• Beneficiário: Victor Vasques Ribeiro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado