Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 5(4), pp. 302 - 311
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050407
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Plastic Pellets on Campeche Beach (Santa Catarina Island, Brazil): A Seasonality and Composition Study

Patrícia Louro ^*, Walter Martin Widmer
Federal Institute of Santa Catarina, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Alerts regarding marine contamination by microplastics motivated this study, conducted in Santa Catarina Island, South Brazil. During 12 sampling events, spatial and temporal distribution of plastic resin pellets, collected at two locations of Campeche beach, was analyzed, and polymer composition was identified. Plastic pellets were found in every sampling day, with a mean average of 1.16 pellets/ m². Their abundance was influenced by two factors: Sampling location and Sampling day nested in each Season. There was a variable abundance along the monitoring period, with an increase of pellets in autumn. A significantly higher amount of pellets was found in one sampling place. The composition of the sampled pellets was heterogeneous, with a prevalence of low density polyethylene polymers. It is clear that a series of proceedings regarding production, stocking, transport and transformation of plastic pellets, must be considered, to avoid pellets loss of into the environment.

KEYWORDS
Beach, Brazil, Coastal Management, Marine Pollution, Microplastics, Monitoring, Pellets

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Patrícia Louro , Walter Martin Widmer , "Plastic Pellets on Campeche Beach (Santa Catarina Island, Brazil): A Seasonality and Composition Study," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 302 - 311, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050407.

(b). APA Format:
Patrícia Louro , Walter Martin Widmer (2017). Plastic Pellets on Campeche Beach (Santa Catarina Island, Brazil): A Seasonality and Composition Study. Environment and Ecology Research, 5(4), 302 - 311. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050407.