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How natural and anthropogenic factors should drive microplastic behavior and fate : The scenario of Brazilian urban freshwater

Sodré, Fernando F. ; Arowojolu, Imisi M. ; Canela, Maria C. ; Ferreira, Rodrigo S. ; Fernandes, Andreia N. ; Montagner, Cassiana C. ; Vidal, Cristiane ; Dias, Mariana A. ; Abate, Gilberto and da Silva, Leticia C. , et al. (2023) In Chemosphere 340.
Abstract

Brazil maintains its position at the top of the global ranking of plastic producers, yet recycling efforts have been incipient. Recent data reveals an annual production of approximately 14 million tons of plastic waste, not accounting for the surge in the usage of plastic masks and related materials due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, what remains largely unreported is that over half of post-consumer plastic packaging in Brazil is managed without any monitoring, and it remains unclear how this will contribute to the occurrence of plastic waste and microplastics in Brazilian freshwaters. This scenario requires the consideration of several other crucial factors. Studies have been carried out mainly in marine and estuarine waters, while... (More)

Brazil maintains its position at the top of the global ranking of plastic producers, yet recycling efforts have been incipient. Recent data reveals an annual production of approximately 14 million tons of plastic waste, not accounting for the surge in the usage of plastic masks and related materials due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, what remains largely unreported is that over half of post-consumer plastic packaging in Brazil is managed without any monitoring, and it remains unclear how this will contribute to the occurrence of plastic waste and microplastics in Brazilian freshwaters. This scenario requires the consideration of several other crucial factors. Studies have been carried out mainly in marine and estuarine waters, while data on freshwaters are lacking. Brazil has continental dimensions and the highest water availability on the planet, yet the demand for water is greatest in regions with medium to low supply. Many densely populated Brazilian urban areas face chronic flood problems, possess inadequate levels of wastewater treatment, and display inadequate solid waste management practices. Consequently, urban freshwater with tropical characteristics in Brazil presents an intriguing scenario and is complementary to the most commonly studied marine environments. In this study, we explore the nuances of pollution in Brazilian urban freshwater and discuss how various parameters, such as organic matter, suspended solids, temperature, and pH, among others, influence the behavior of microplastics and their interactions with organic and inorganic contaminants. Furthermore, we address how microplastic conditions, such as biofouling, the type of plastic, or degradation level, may impact their behavior. By analyzing how these conditions change, we propose priority themes for investigating the occurrence of microplastics in Brazilian urban freshwater systems under different degrees of human impact. Ultimately, this study aims to establish a network dedicated to standardized monitoring of microplastic pollution in Brazilian urban freshwaters.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Brazil, Freshwater, Microplastics, Plastic waste, Recommendations, Wastewater
in
Chemosphere
volume
340
article number
139813
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:37586495
  • scopus:85167832033
ISSN
0045-6535
DOI
10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139813
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
id
c5f1d2da-d045-4ab3-9008-ddc1f76f30e2
date added to LUP
2024-07-02 09:13:15
date last changed
2024-07-16 12:23:28
@article{c5f1d2da-d045-4ab3-9008-ddc1f76f30e2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Brazil maintains its position at the top of the global ranking of plastic producers, yet recycling efforts have been incipient. Recent data reveals an annual production of approximately 14 million tons of plastic waste, not accounting for the surge in the usage of plastic masks and related materials due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, what remains largely unreported is that over half of post-consumer plastic packaging in Brazil is managed without any monitoring, and it remains unclear how this will contribute to the occurrence of plastic waste and microplastics in Brazilian freshwaters. This scenario requires the consideration of several other crucial factors. Studies have been carried out mainly in marine and estuarine waters, while data on freshwaters are lacking. Brazil has continental dimensions and the highest water availability on the planet, yet the demand for water is greatest in regions with medium to low supply. Many densely populated Brazilian urban areas face chronic flood problems, possess inadequate levels of wastewater treatment, and display inadequate solid waste management practices. Consequently, urban freshwater with tropical characteristics in Brazil presents an intriguing scenario and is complementary to the most commonly studied marine environments. In this study, we explore the nuances of pollution in Brazilian urban freshwater and discuss how various parameters, such as organic matter, suspended solids, temperature, and pH, among others, influence the behavior of microplastics and their interactions with organic and inorganic contaminants. Furthermore, we address how microplastic conditions, such as biofouling, the type of plastic, or degradation level, may impact their behavior. By analyzing how these conditions change, we propose priority themes for investigating the occurrence of microplastics in Brazilian urban freshwater systems under different degrees of human impact. Ultimately, this study aims to establish a network dedicated to standardized monitoring of microplastic pollution in Brazilian urban freshwaters.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sodré, Fernando F. and Arowojolu, Imisi M. and Canela, Maria C. and Ferreira, Rodrigo S. and Fernandes, Andreia N. and Montagner, Cassiana C. and Vidal, Cristiane and Dias, Mariana A. and Abate, Gilberto and da Silva, Leticia C. and Grassi, Marco T. and Bertoldi, Crislaine and Fadini, Pedro S. and Urban, Roberta C. and Ferraz, Gabriel M. and Schio, Natalí S. and Waldman, Walter R.}},
  issn         = {{0045-6535}},
  keywords     = {{Brazil; Freshwater; Microplastics; Plastic waste; Recommendations; Wastewater}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Chemosphere}},
  title        = {{How natural and anthropogenic factors should drive microplastic behavior and fate : The scenario of Brazilian urban freshwater}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139813}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139813}},
  volume       = {{340}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}