Abstract

FRANCO-HERRERA, Andrés; POLANIA-ZENNER, Paula Irene; OTALORA-RINCON, Carlos David  and  TIGREROS-BENAVIDES, Paulo César. Spatial and temporal distribution of floating microplastics in waters of the Colombian central Caribbean region. Rev. acad. colomb. cienc. exact. fis. nat. [online]. 2022, vol.46, n.179, pp.406-425.  Epub Sep 12, 2023. ISSN 0370-3908.  https://doi.org/10.18257/raccefyn.1578.

Plastic is a fundamental material in modern life. Half of the world's production is single-use and its waste generates an identifiable footprint in nature. Colombia's hydrological system integrates fresh, estuarine, and salt waters, which facilitates these wastes reaching the marine areas. In this context, our aim was to provide information on the spatial and temporal dynamics of microplastics in the marine-coastal zone of the department of Magdalena as a contribution to the implementation of future policies for the management of these residues. Trawls with a manta net (250 µm) were carried out in four sectors of the coastal zone during the rainy and dry seasons (2019 - 2020). We took a representative subsample and treated it with chemical oxidation (Fentom reaction) to remove organic matter. Particles were counted and classified by morphological categories: fragments, fibers, foams, films, and pellets in all sectors, with greater abundance in the rainy season, which may be related to the intensification of continental discharges from the Manzanares, Gaira, and Magdalena rivers and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta. Fragments and fractions above 500 µm in size were the most abundant and no spatial differences were observed for abundances. Meteorological and hydrological dynamics play an important role in microplastic abundance, which adds to the anthropic pressure and domestic wastewaters not properly managed and favors the disposal of these residues in natural systems.

Keywords : Microplastics; Contamination; Caribbean; Magdalena.

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