Microplastics in Freshwater River in Rio de Janeiro and Its Role as a Source of Microplastic Pollution in Guanabara Bay, SE Brazil
Thiago L. Drabinski,
Diego G. de Carvalho,
Christine C. Gaylarde,
Marcos F. P. Lourenço,
Wilson T. V. Machado,
Estefan M. da Fonseca,
André Luiz Carvalho da Silva,
José Antônio Baptista Neto
Affiliations
Thiago L. Drabinski
Laboratório de Geologia Marinha/LAGEMAR, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, Niterói 24210-340, RJ, Brazil
Diego G. de Carvalho
Laboratório de Geologia Marinha/LAGEMAR, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, Niterói 24210-340, RJ, Brazil
Christine C. Gaylarde
Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Oklahoma University, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Marcos F. P. Lourenço
Departamento de Geoquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro São João Batista s/n, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil
Wilson T. V. Machado
Departamento de Geoquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro São João Batista s/n, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil
Estefan M. da Fonseca
Laboratório de Geologia Marinha/LAGEMAR, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, Niterói 24210-340, RJ, Brazil
André Luiz Carvalho da Silva
Departamento de Geografia, Faculdade de Formação de Professores, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Francisco Portela, 1470, Patronato, São Gonçalo 24435-005, RJ, Brazil
José Antônio Baptista Neto
Laboratório de Geologia Marinha/LAGEMAR, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, Niterói 24210-340, RJ, Brazil
In the present research, the occurrence of contamination by microplastics in the water column was investigated in 15 sample sites along the rivers Guapimirim, Macacu and Maracanã—important rivers that flow into Guanabara Bay, a very polluted estuarine environment in Brazil. The correctidentified polymers were manually counted and classified as to their morphology and color using a binocular stereomicroscope and were characterized by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The total mean abundance of particles was 3651.5 items m−3, ranging from 3.6 to 51,166.5 items m−3. Plastic debris was identified in all samples, with a predominance of fibers (67.3%). Polyethylene, polyester fiber and high-density polyethylene (50%) were the major polymers, and the main colors were transparent followed by black and blue in all the water bodies studied. The highest quantities of microplastics were found in the Maracanã River. The figures show that microplastic concentrations are correlated to the level of urbanization.
