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Morphology, Chemical Characterization and Sources of Microplastics in a Coastal City in the Equatorial Zone with Diverse Anthropogenic Activities (Fortaleza city, Brazil)

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to perform morphological and chemical characterizations of microplastics (MPs) found in seawater samples from the coast of the city of Fortaleza (CE) using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Sampling was performed using a neuston sampler. MPs were separated based on the difference in density. MPs with varied morphologies were found. Fibers and fragments were the most abundant (57% and 36.2%, respectively). FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and DSC confirmed the presence of polyurethane and alkyd resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide blends, thermoplastic rubber and polyester fibers. The main sources of MPs and their relative contribution were fishing activities, food packaging and household products with 55.1%, household laundry with 27.2%, wear of surface coatings with 10.0% and wear of automobile tires with 7.6%. As a result, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyamide are believed to enter the marine environment mainly through fishing activities and debris from food packaging, polyester mainly through domestic sewage contaminated by washing clothes fibers, polyurethane and alkyd resin from the abrasive wear of surface coatings, as well as rubber particles from the wear of the automobile tires. Thus, one may infer that the main sources of MPs in the marine environment on the coast of Fortaleza are anthropogenic activities. Additionally, there is less information on blends and weathered MPs in commercial polymer databases. Therefore, the MP spectra obtained in this study can serve as a database to compare and characterize these more complex MPs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by FUNCAP project Avaliação da variabilidade espaço temporal da qualidade da água e sedimento na Praia do Futuro (Fortaleza-Ceará) (proc. n° 08069195/2019) with support from “Project Marine Protected Areas” (GEF-Mar/FUNBIO/SEMA/FCPC), I-plastics: dispersion and impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in the tropical and temperate oceans: from regional land-ocean surface to open oceans (JPI Oceans International Consortium/Funcap) and FUNCAP/PRONEM PNE-0112-00007.01.00/16. We also thank partner laboratories like: Zoobenthos Laboratory (LABOMAR/UFC); Polymer and Material Innovation Laboratory (UFC); Structural Crystallography Laboratory (UFC), Department of Physics (UFPI) and Civil Police of the State of Piauí. R.M. Cavalcante is grateful for the PQ-2 Grant (315281/2020-0-CNPq). The authors also thank CNPq, CAPES and especially to LACOr team for their energy and excitement regarding scientific work “these guys are rocking”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organic Contaminant Assessment Laboratory -LACOr, Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60165-081, Brazil

    Maria E. Nolasco, Viviane A. S. Lemos, Gina López & Rivelino M. Cavalcante

  2. Polymer and Material Innovation Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Ceará, Campus do Pici, Bloco 938, Fortaleza, CEP 60455-760, Brazil

    Sandra A. Soares & Johnny P. M. Feitosa

  3. Structural Crystallography Laboratory, Physics Department, Federal University of Ceará, Campus do Pici, Bloco 922, Fortaleza, CE, CEP 60355-636, Brazil

    Bruno S. Araújo & Alejandro P. Ayala

  4. Department of Physics, UFPI - Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, CEP 64049-550, Brazil

    Marleane M. F. de Azevedo & Francisco E. P. Santos

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  1. Maria E. Nolasco
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  2. Viviane A. S. Lemos
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  10. Rivelino M. Cavalcante
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Nolasco, M.E., Lemos, V.A.S., López, G. et al. Morphology, Chemical Characterization and Sources of Microplastics in a Coastal City in the Equatorial Zone with Diverse Anthropogenic Activities (Fortaleza city, Brazil). J Polym Environ 30, 2862–2874 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-022-02405-5

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