Microplastics in the NW Portuguese Coast: From Research to Public Awareness
Marine debris are composed of a wide variety of materials from various sources, however, plastics are by far the most abundant material. These are mostly discharged into aquatic ecosystems and transported by currents to diverse areas, first through the rivers, which channel the waste generated in terrestrial sources, into the estuaries, and finally into the oceans. Plastic marine debris are exposed to physical, chemical, and biological stressors, resulting in smaller fragments, known as microplastics. This reality results in severe impacts on global ecosystems, human health, and marine life. There is still a considerable lack of scientific knowledge on both marine litter and microplastics characterization, distribution and sources. It is, therefore, urgent to increase the efforts, especially on transitional ecosystems. Two estuaries from the NW coast of Portugal were considered for the present research. This study aims to evaluate and characterize microplastics in the water column, as well as identify the main sources of such debris, as a long-term research collaborative research. At the same time, awareness-raising activities were organized on the subject through the direct involvement of citizens. This multidisciplinary research object represents a contribution to the urgent need for temporal and spatial monitoring of plastic pollution in estuaries and other coastal ecosystems. This scientific knowledge is essential for the adequate management of litter, to increase strategic networking and also to support and contribute to the development of Marine Litter removal technologies. The present research was supported by MAELSTROM- Smart technology for MArinE Litter SusTainable RemOval and Management, EC Grant agreement no: 101000832, within the R&D Institution CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020).
Luis R. Vieira, Claudia Pezzilli, Daniela Padilha, Isabel Iglesias, Isabel Sousa Pinto, Olatz Ortega, and Sara Antunes. "Microplastics in the NW Portuguese Coast: From Research to Public Awareness." ROHub. Nov 08 ,2022. https://w3id.org/ro-id/3b1ad0bd-a71a-474e-84a1-d48e3e924b21.
Economy, business and finance/Business information/Strategy and marketing/Research and development
Economy, business and finance/Economic sector/Chemicals/Synthetic and plastic chemicals
There is still a considerable lack of scientific knowledge on both marine litter and microplastics characterization, distribution and sources.
This multidisciplinary research object represents a contribution to the urgent need for temporal and spatial monitoring of plastic pollution in estuaries and other coastal ecosystems.
This scientific knowledge is essential for the adequate management of litter, to increase strategic networking and also to support and contribute to the development of Marine Litter removal technologies.
Marine Litter and Microplastics from Ave River Estuary
Figure 4. Science and Society Activity: Marine Litter and Microplastics
Figure 3. Figure 4. Science and Society Activity: Marine Litter and Microplastics
Figure 1. Science and Society Activity: Marine Litter and Microplastics
MPs mean concentration (%) by type from Douro and Ave Rivers estuaries.
Figure 2.MPs mean concentration (%) by type from Douro and Ave Rivers estuaries.
Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCO), showing similarities between microplastics type and colour and relation with selected estuaries. The percentage contribution of both axis is also indicated.
Figure 1. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCO)
Example of a filter for analysis and a blank for quality control.