Plastic pollution on beaches in an Antillean manatee conservation area, Brazil.

The presence of plastic debris along shorelines is a widespread problem, and plastic debris can interact directly with marine wildlife. In northeast Brazil, the Antillean manatees are the most common marine mammals and use estuarine waters mainly as their home range. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of plastic debris on the estuarine-oceanic continuum and the accumulation density of plastic on beaches. The density of plastic debris on beaches located in transitional areas was 7-10-fold greater than that on beaches in estuarine and oceanic areas. Fragments were considered the most abundant form of plastic debris on all the beaches. Our findings could lead to improved pollution management in this marine protected area, principally due to the risks of remobilizing small plastic particles through tides and wind effects that scatter them in resting and feeding manatees areas.

Seabirds as biovectors in the transport of plastic debris across ecosystem borders: A case study from the Humboldt Current Upwelling System.

Seabirds have become biovectors of plastic pollutants between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and transport of plastics to their nesting sites becomes relevant due to increasing levels of pollution. To determine the pathways by which plastic reaches their colonies, we analysed the abundance of plastics at the nesting sites of five seabird species (Humboldt penguin Spheniscus humboldti, Peruvian booby Sula variegata, kelp gull Larus dominicanus, grey gull Leucophaeus modestus, Markham's storm-petrel Hydrobates markhami) nesting in northern Chile. Seabirds were primarily grouped according to their nesting behaviour, but two species foraging in contrasting habitats (kelp gull and Markham's storm-petrel) were also compared directly. The abundance, type, and polymer of macro-, meso- and microplastics were analysed in the soil of colonies and control sites, and microplastic ingestion was evaluated for selected species. Densities of plastics in colonies of surface-nesting seabirds ranged from 0 to 21.4 items m-2 (mainly plastic bags and thin films), and 0.002 to 19.7 items m-2 (mainly hard fragments) in colonies of burrow-nesting seabirds. Mean microplastic loads in the stomachs of seabirds were between 3.7 ± 4.2 plastic items individual-1. Overall, the abundances of plastic items in all seabird colonies were low, suggesting a limited transfer of plastics from sea to land. For kelp gulls, the results indicate transfer of macroplastic items to colonies, reaching the colony via regurgitates, with landfills considered as the main plastic source. Our results suggest that contrasting nesting behaviour and foraging habitats among species can explain differential plastic accumulation in seabird colonies, but also other factors, such as wind, contribute to the accumulation of plastic debris in colonies. Proper management of sanitary landfills are key to reduce plastic contamination of coastal seabirds and their colonies.

Prevalence of plastic debris in nests of two cormorant species in Peru.

The guanay cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) and red-legged cormorant (Poikilocarbo gaimardi) are known for their prolific nest-building behavior, utilizing a diverse array of materials, including anthropogenic debris, thereby serving as valuable indicators of ocean plastic pollution. To elucidate inter-specific variations in nest plastic occurrence between these two cormorant species, we conducted a comprehensive examination of nests at 12 colonies along the Peruvian coast in 2018-2019. Our findings revealed a significantly higher occurrence of plastic in red-legged cormorant nests (mean 50 ± 27 %, N = 100 nests in 7 colonies) compared to guanay cormorant nests (mean 10 ± 20 %, 3497 nests in 8 colonies). Furthermore, the prevalence of plastic waste varied across colonies within both species. Off-white/clear plastic bags were the predominant color and type of debris found in both cormorant nests. This study is a baseline of plastic marine pollution occurrence along the Peruvian coast.

Bioactive compounds and benefits of by-products of Amazon babassu oil production: potential for dietary supplement, biomedical and food applications.

Babassu coconut (Attalea speciosa syn. Orbignya phalerata) contains an oil-rich nut and is primarily found in South America's Amazon region. Future market researchers predict an increase in the babassu oil market from USD 227.7 million in 2022 to USD 347.0 million by 2032, and the yield of babassu oil from babassu-processed waste could reach 90%. Of these, mesocarp flour is an underrated by-product used only for animal feed purposes by local producers. This comprehensive review focuses on advances in knowledge and understanding of phytochemicals from babassu oil by-products considering the mechanisms of action - covering antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, and anticancer effects. Babassu coconut fruit contains free fatty acids, (poly)phenols, phytosterols, and triterpenes. Pytochemicals, antiparasitic and antibacterial activities of babassu mesocarp flour were shown, but fungi and viruses can get more attention. Beyond its antioxidant capacity, babassu mesocarp flour showed potential as a dietary food supplement. Aqueous suspensions of mesocarp flour with a higher preference for cancer cells than normal cells and an antithrombotic effect were also identified, probably related to the antioxidant capacity of its secondary metabolites. Mesocarp flour, a starch-rich fraction, is promising for application as biodegradable packaging to improve the oxidative stability of foods. Finally, low-added value fractions can be considered bio-waste/co-products, and their phytochemicals may attract interest for applications in medicine and nutrition. Toxicological concerns, trends, and gaps are discussed for the future of foods and related sciences.

Marine litter pollution in a subantarctic beach of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas, Chile.

This study assessed the presence of marine litter along the beach of the city of Punta Arenas, Chile. The sampling period coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 239 plastic waste items were identified out of a total of 638 litter items. The Clean Coast Index reported within this study ranged from Clean (CCI 2-5) to Extremely dirty (CCI >20), especially near the port. The majority of litter items has been classified as originating from varied origins, as it is not possible to pinpoint a precise origin in most items. The results indicate that the predominant plastic litter in Punta Arenas is PVC. The results are discussed in relation to the sources and composition of the residues, the morpho dynamics of the coast, and the CCI is compared with other locations around the globe.

Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study.

Determining the sources of marine litter is necessary to mitigate this increasing global problem. Plastic bottles are useful tracers of marine litter and constitute the main item (24%) stranding on remote beaches in the Galapagos Islands. The aim of this study was to estimate the abundance of plastic bottles in remote beaches and inferred their sources. To do so, we collected plastic bottles at 60 remote Galapagos Island beaches from 2018 to 2022. 76% of beaches were qualified as badly polluted, with >34 bottles·100 m-1. Most identified bottles came from Peru (71%), followed by China (17%) and Ecuador (9%). Although most locally-sold products are made in Ecuador, they contribute little to beach litter loads. Polyethylene terephthalate bottles with lid (necessary for litter dispersal) represented 88% of all bottles, demonstrating that most of the litter reaching the Galapagos comes from distant sources, mainly from South America. However, bottle ages indicate that at least 10% of Peruvian, 26% of Ecuadorian, and all Chinese bottles likely were dumped from ships. Reducing marine litter reaching the Galapagos Islands requires tackling litter leakage from land-based sources in South America and better compliance with regulations banning the dumping of plastics and other persistent wastes from ships.

Chromoproduct approach to achieve environmentally sound management of e-waste plastics: Colombian project case.

Research to prevent releases of brominated flame retardants listed as persistent organic pollutants by the Stockholm Convention (POP-BFRs) was conducted through an international cooperation project in Colombia. Six waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management facilities implemented: 1) sorting e-waste by product type and color (black, white, and other; henceforth called chromoproducts), 2) sampling test products and their plastic fraction (called sets, separated by polymer type), 3) monitoring mass, bromine and antimony contents by hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and POP-BFRs such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 4) differentiated treatment according to categories that used the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (RoHS) hazardousness threshold of 1000 mg ∑PBDEs/kg. This scheme led to the proposal of a methodology for WEEE management called the "chromoproduct approach". 994,230 products were managed and grouped into 222 chromoproducts, from which 77 were analyzed: 50 below RoHS hazardousness (BRH), 16 above RoHS hazardousness (ARH), and 11 unknown RoHS hazardousness (URH). XRF indicators using bromine and antimony contents could rule out pollution in BRH chromoproducts; however, categorization still required GC-MS. One ARH plastics sample had 3620 mg ∑PBDEs/kg, while no POP-BFRs were found in the BRH plastics sample. The implementation of the chromoproduct approach traced 153.6 tonnes of ARH plastics. BRH plastics composition was estimated and used in a pilot-scale closed-loop economic activity. The chromoproduct approach seems promising for avoiding POP-BFR releases and promoting the upcycling of recyclable e-waste plastics.

A dye elution method for the quantification of insecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis and its compatibility with the presence of agro-industrial raw materials and waste products.

The insecticidal crystal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis during sporulation are active ingredients against lepidopteran, dipteran, and coleopteran insects. Several methods have been reported for their quantification, such as crystal counting, ELISA, and SDS-PAGE/densitometry. One of the major tasks in industrial processes is the analysis of raw material dependency and costs. Thus, the crystal protein quantification method is expected to be compatible with the presence of complex and inexpensive culture medium components. This work presents a revalidated elution-based method for the quantification of insecticidal crystal proteins produced by the native strain B. thuringiensis RT. To quantify proteins, a calibration curve was generated by varying the amount of BSA loaded into SDS-PAGE gels. First, SDS-PAGE was performed for quality control of the bioinsecticide. Then, the stained protein band was excised from 10% polyacrylamide gel and the protein-associated dye was eluted with an alcoholic solution of SDS (3% SDS in 50% isopropanol) during 45 min at 95°C. This protocol was a sensitive procedure to quantify proteins in the range of 2.0-10.0 µg. As proof of concept, proteins of samples obtained from a complex fermented broth were separated by SDS-PAGE. Then, Cry1 and Cry2 proteins were properly quantified.

Beached seabirds as plastic biomonitors in Brazil from the Beach Monitoring Project of the Santos Basin (PMP-BS).

Bioindicator species are useful to monitor wildlife exposure to plastic pollution, and responses to plastic leakage and policy interventions. Here we explore the biomonitoring potential of different seabird and shorebirds species across six years of monitoring in Brazil. Using the necropsy stranding database of the Beach Monitoring Project of the Santos Basin (PMP-BS), we evaluated i) the frequency of birds-plastic interactions in Brazil; ii) whether plastic interactions have changed through time and in different coastal regions; and iii) potential bioindicators for monitoring the exposure of seabirds to plastic in the nearshore South Atlantic Ocean. We found 37 species that had ingested plastic, including ten new records, found that the rates of tube-nosed seabirds increased through time, and suggested two potential species. We discuss the potential for biomonitoring marine pollution in the South Atlantic Ocean using PMP-BS, providing a scheme for a better plastic pollution monitoring in Brazil.

At-sea solid waste production by a small-scale fishery in Peru.

Marine litter is a growing environmental problem for which fisheries-sourced waste remains poorly understood. In Peru, there is an ongoing challenge of waste management from the small-scale fisheries fleet given the lack of facilities to receive the variety of debris produced by fishers, which includes hazardous wastes such as batteries. In this study, onboard solid waste production was monitored daily by land-based observers upon landing at the port of Salaverry, Peru, from March to September 2017. The analysed small-scale gillnet and longline fishing fleets produced annually an estimated 11,260 kg of solid waste. Of particular concern is the production of single use plastics (3427 kg) and batteries (861 kg) due to their potential long-lasting impacts on the environment and challenges related to their proper disposal. A management plan for solid waste has been developed for Salaverry; therefore, a subsequent assessment was conducted in 2021-2022 of the behaviours and perceptions of fishers regarding the implementation of this plan. Most fishers (96%) reported disposing of their waste on land, except organic waste which is disposed of at sea. While fishers in Salaverry have become more conscious of the issues surrounding at-sea waste disposal and have an interest in better segregating and managing their waste, there remains a need for improved waste management and recycling protocols and procedures at the port to make this possible.

Isolation and identification of keratinolytic probiotic Bucillus licheniformis bacteria from the soil below poultry slaughterhouse waste / Isolamento e identificação de bactérias probióticas queratinolíticas Bacillus licheniformis do solo sob resíduos de abatedouro de aves

Feathers make up 7% of the total weight of adult chickens and keratin protein makes up 85% of the feathers. Today, the keratinase enzymes of some Bacillus strains are used to degrade and process raw keratin waste for animal and poultry feed. According to various studies, the probiotic properties of some spore-shaped Bacillus have also been proven. The study aimed to isolation of the keratinolytic Bacillus bacteria that they have probiotic properties for using in the livestock and poultry feed industry. We were able to isolate 8 strains of Bacillus licheniformis with kreatin degrading properties from the soil of Baharan chicken slaughterhouse (Qom city, Iran) applying heat shock, alcohol- and keratin-rich culture medium, and after microscopic and biochemical analysis, 16S rDNA gene was isolated. The measurement results of keratinase activity showed that the three strains of Bacillus licheniformis pvkr6, pvkr 15, and pvkr41 had the highest activity with 124.08, 101.1, and 100.18 U/ml. The results of probiotic properties evaluation also revealed that among all the isolates, only Bacillus licheniformis pvkr15 and Bacillus licheniformis PTCC 1595 (positive control) were γ-hemolytic strains. The percentage of surface hydrophobicity of the strains was obtained from 3.27 to 30.57. It was also shown that, on average, all the strains had acceptable susceptibility to the tested antibiotics except penicillin G. Bacillus licheniformis pvkr15 with highest keratinase activity (101.1U/ml) was considered an optional probiotics due to its abilities such as (biofilm formation, being safe cause of γ-hemolytic activity, high susceptibility to antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, cefixime, amoxicillin, tetracycline, vancomycin, erythromycin and having a moderate hydrophilic (hydrophobicity: 19.09%), high survivability in pH 2, 2.5 and 3, strong resistance to bile salts and moderate antagonistic activity against pathogenic bacterium like Proteus mirabilis and the ability to grow under anaerobic conditions). By using this strain, after hydrolysis of keratin protein in the feather structure, to replace part of the protein of livestock and poultry feed, not only is no need to separate bacteria from the feed, but also the strain play role of an useful and effective additive in animal growth.

As penas representam 7% do peso total das galinhas adultas e a proteína de queratina compõe 85% das penas. Hoje, as enzimas queratinase de algumas cepas de Bacillus são usadas para degradar e processar resíduos de queratina brutos para alimentação de animais e aves. De acordo com vários estudos, as propriedades probióticas de alguns Bacillus em forma de esporos também foram comprovadas. O estudo teve como objetivo o isolamento das bactérias queratinolíticas Bacillus que possuem propriedades probióticas para uso na indústria de ração animal e avícola. Conseguimos isolar 8 cepas de Bacillus licheniformis com propriedades degradantes de creatina do solo do abatedouro de frangos de Baharan (cidade de Qom, Irã) aplicando choque térmico, meio de cultura rico em álcool e queratina e, após análise microscópica e bioquímica, o gene 16S rDNA foi isolado. Os resultados da medição da atividade da queratinase mostraram que as três cepas de Bacillus licheniformis pvkr6, pvkr15 e pvkr41 tiveram a maior atividade com 124,08, 101,1 e 100,18 U/ml. Os resultados da avaliação das propriedades probióticas também revelaram que dentre todos os isolados apenas Bacillus licheniformis pvkr15 e Bacillus licheniformis PTCC 1595 (controle positivo) eram cepas γ-hemolíticas. A porcentagem de hidrofobicidade superficial das cepas foi obtida de 3,27 a 30,57. Também foi demonstrado que, em média, todas as cepas apresentaram suscetibilidade aceitável aos antibióticos testados, exceto penicilina G. Bacillus licheniformis pvkr15 com maior atividade de queratinase (101,1U/ml) foi considerado um probiótico opcional devido às suas habilidades como formação de biofilme, sendo causa segura de atividade γ-hemolítica, alta suscetibilidade a antibióticos como estreptomicina, gentamicina, cefixima, amoxicilina, tetraciclina, vancomicina, eritromicina e ter uma hidrofílica moderada (hidrofobicidade: 19,09%), alta capacidade de sobrevivência em pH 2, 2,5 e 3, forte resistência aos sais biliares e atividade antagonista moderada contra bactérias patogênicas como Proteus mirabilis e a capacidade de crescer em condições anaeróbicas. Ao utilizar esta cepa, após a hidrólise da proteína queratina na estrutura da pena, para substituir parte da proteína da ração de gado e aves, não só não há necessidade de separar as bactérias da ração, mas também a cepa desempenha um papel útil e eficaz aditivo no crescimento animal.

Assessment of agronomic crops-based residues for growth and nutritional profile of Pleurotus eryngii / Avaliação de resíduos de cultivos agronômicos para crescimento e perfil nutricional de Pleurotus eryngii

Among edible mushrooms, Pleurotus eryngii is unique due to its flavor, admirable medicinal and nutritional profiling. Pakistan is an agricultural country diverse in various crops. However, the residues of the horticultural and agronomic crops are wasted without utilization in the food chain. Hence, a study was performed to assess the performance of relatively low-cost, easily available crops residues i.e. cotton, rice, wheat, mustard and water chestnut for yield and nutrition enhancement of Pleurotus eryngii strains P9 (China) and P10 (PSU-USA). The results revealed that morphological attributes i.e. mycelium run, fruit development, yield and biological efficiency were significantly higher by using cotton waste as compared to other substrates. Regarding biochemical attributes i.e. total soluble solids (12.67 °Brix), phenolics (259.6 mg/100g), moisture (92.3%) and ascorbic acid contents (2.9 mg/100ml) were also significantly higher by using cotton waste. Whereas, acidity (0.30%), reducing sugar (7.67%), non-reducing (4.33%) and total sugars contents (12%) were found highest by using mustard straw. Nutrient analysis of substrates showed that nutrient levels were increased after harvesting of crop as compared to before harvesting levels. Overall results revealed that cotton waste and mustard straw are promising substrates for Pleurotus eryngii better growth and have potential in yield and nutrition enhancement. Moreover, P10 strain performed better as compared to P9.

Entre os cogumelos comestíveis, Pleurotus eryngii é único por causa de seu sabor e seu admirável perfil medicinal e nutricional. O Paquistão é um país agrícola com diversas culturas. No entanto, os resíduos das culturas hortícolas e agronômicas são desperdiçados sem aproveitamento na cadeia alimentar. Assim, um estudo foi realizado para avaliar o desempenho de resíduos de culturas com custos relativamente baixos e facilmente disponíveis, ou seja, algodão, arroz, trigo, mostarda e castanha-de-água, para o aumento da produtividade e nutrição de cepas de P. eryngii P9 (China) e P10 (PSU-EUA). Os resultados revelaram que os atributos morfológicos, ou seja, função do micélio, desenvolvimento de frutos, rendimento e eficiência biológica, foram significativamente maiores usando resíduos de algodão em comparação com outros substratos. Em relação aos atributos bioquímicos, ou seja, sólidos solúveis totais (12,67 °Brix), fenólicos (259,6 mg / 100 g), umidade (92,3%) e teores de ácido ascórbico (2,9 mg / 100 ml), também foram significativamente maiores usando resíduos de algodão. Já os teores de acidez (0,30%), açúcares redutores (7,67%), não redutores (4,33%) e açúcares totais (12%) foram os mais elevados na palha de mostarda. A análise de nutrientes dos substratos mostrou que os níveis de nutrientes aumentaram após a colheita da cultura em comparação com os níveis antes da colheita. Os resultados gerais revelaram que os resíduos de algodão e a palha de mostarda são substratos promissores para o melhor crescimento de P. eryngii e têm potencial na melhoria da produtividade e nutrição. Além disso, a cepa P10 apresentou melhor desempenho em comparação com a P9.

Evaluation of physicochemical properties of Nile tilapia skin collagen extracted in acid médium / Avaliação das propriedades físico-químicas do colágeno da pele de tilápia do Nilo extraído em meio ácido

Tilapia has high-temperature tolerance, can breed in captivity, grow fast, and have excellent cost-benefit. Because of these characteristics, this species is of great interest in aquaculture and, currently, the most produced fish in Brazil. However, by increasing tilapia production, there was also a rise in the amount of organic waste, mainly from filleting, which discards 70% of waste. There are many studies on collagen extraction from tilapia skin as an alternative to reduce these residues and add commercial value. In this work, the extraction of protein concentrate was tested using an acid protocol, in which the tilapia skins underwent a pre-treatment in an acid medium and saline precipitation, with variations in time and concentration. After its extraction, the skin was evaluated for ash, moisture, protein, solubility, and pH. The protein concentrate obtained showed low ash contents, and the humidity is within those presented by the literature. The protein concentrate showed levels from 68.73 to 80.58% of protein and a low solubility between 4.03 to 6.93%. In conclusion, acid extraction is a possible means of collagen extraction, and tilapia skin is a good alternative to reuse waste generated in the fish industry.

A tilápia tem tolerância a altas temperaturas, pode se reproduzir em cativeiro, crescer rápido e tem excelente custo-benefício. Por essas características, esta espécie é de grande interesse na aquicultura e, atualmente, o pescado mais produzido no Brasil. No entanto, com o aumento da produção de tilápias, houve também um aumento na quantidade de resíduos orgânicos, principalmente da filetagem, que descarta 70% dos resíduos. Existem muitos estudos sobre a extração de colágeno da pele de tilápia como alternativa para reduzir esses resíduos e agregar valor comercial. Neste trabalho, a extração do concentrado protéico foi testada utilizando um protocolo ácido, no qual as peles de tilápia foram submetidas a um pré-tratamento em meio ácido e precipitação salina, com variações de tempo e concentração. Após sua extração, a pele foi avaliada quanto a cinzas, umidade, proteína, solubilidade e pH. O concentrado protéico obtido apresentou baixos teores de cinzas, e a umidade está dentro dos apresentados pela literatura. O concentrado protéico apresentou teores de 68,73 a 80,58% de proteína e uma baixa solubilidade entre 4,03 a 6,93%. Em conclusão, a extração ácida é um possível meio de extração de colágeno, e a pele de tilápia é uma boa alternativa para reaproveitar os resíduos gerados na indústria de pescados.

From the closet to the shore: Fashion waste pollution on Colombian Central Caribbean beaches.

This paper examines the environmental effects of fashion waste on the central Caribbean coast of Colombia, highlighting significant ecological issues in coastal areas. A survey of 27 beaches found 503 items of fashion waste, mainly shoes and sandals, with an average density of 0.93 items/m2. The distribution of this type of waste varies notably across different beach types, with exposed, rural, and remote beaches showing higher accumulation, indicating a relationship between beach characteristics and waste concentration. Primary sources of this waste include riverine transport, coastal tourism, and poorly managed sewage systems, impacting urban, rural, and village beaches differently. The study reveals that longshore currents and oceanic movements, significantly influence the transport and fate of this waste, with exposed beaches accumulating more fashion waste than sheltered ones. The presence of driftwood also plays a vital role in trapping fashion waste along coastlines. The findings highlight the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the impact of fashion waste, providing crucial insights for local and national coastal managers and implications for managing fashion waste in the Southern Caribbean and similar regions worldwide.

First report of deep-sea litter on the Brazilian continental slope, Southwestern Atlantic.

The presence of marine litter in the deep ocean (>200 m depth) may represent an invisible threat that has been neglected due to the scarcity of data. Herein, we provide the first report of persistent marine litter on the Southwestern Atlantic continental slope. Marine litter was collected onboard the Brazilian R/V Alpha Crucis, using bottom trawling, in 28 out of 31 sampled stations, between 274 and 1520 m depth, in two distinct areas off the southern Brazilian coast. In total, 603 items and 13.8 kg of litter were collected and classified according to the type of material. Plastic was the most frequent and most abundant material found. Although there was no bathymetric variation along the slope, density of litter was considerably higher off São Paulo than off Santa Catarina State, supposedly due to the heavier presence of oil and gas platforms and large cargo vessels.

Illegal dumping from ships is responsible for most drink bottle litter even far from shipping lanes.

Recent studies using bottles as tracers have shown that illegal dumping from ships is responsible for the rapid increase in drink bottles washing up on oceanic islands and at remote continental beaches away from local litter inputs. However, these studies have been in areas with moderate to high levels of shipping activity. I examined bottles stranded on the Pitcairn Islands in the central South Pacific, which are far from major shipping routes. Drink bottles from Asia dominated, with most coming from China. The top four brands (three Chinese and one multinational) were the same as at Tristan da Cunha in the central South Atlantic Ocean, which lies on the shipping route between South America and Asia. Bottle ages also were similar at Pitcairn and Tristan, indicating that vessels are the main source of bottles at both islands. Stricter controls are needed to reduce illegal dumping of plastics at sea.

Citizen scientists study beach litter along 12,000 km of the East Pacific coast: A baseline for the International Plastic Treaty.

Anthropogenic Marine Litter (AML) accumulating on beaches causes damage to coastal ecosystems and high costs to local communities. Volunteers sampled AML on 130 beaches along the central and southern East Pacific coasts, with AML densities ranging from 0.46 to 2.26 items m-2 in the different countries. AML composition was dominated by plastics and cigarette butts, the latter especially in Mexico and Chile. The accumulation of AML in the upper zones of the beaches and substantial proportions of cigarette butts, glass and metal pointed mainly to local sources. Statistical modelling of litter sources on continental beaches revealed that tourism, access and related infrastructure (e.g. parking lots) best explained AML densities, while plastic densities were also influenced by the distance from river mouths and national Gross Domestic Product. Large-scale monitoring can be a useful tool to evaluate the effectiveness of public policies that should primarily focus on land sources.

Advancing plastic pollution hotspotting at the subnational level: Brazil as a case study in the Global South.

Identifying sources is crucial for proposing effective actions to combat marine litter pollution. Here, we used an innovative approach to identify hotspots of mismanaged plastic waste (MPW) within Brazil and subsequent leakage to the ocean, based on population density, socio-economic conditions, municipal solid waste management and environmental parameters. We estimated plastic waste generation and MPW for each of the 5570 Brazilian municipalities, which totaled 3.44 million metric tons per year. Then, we estimated the probability of litter mobilization and transport (P) and the relative risk of leakage to the ocean (MPW × P). The Guanabara Bay and La Plata River comprised the main oceanic entry hotspots of litter produced in Brazil. The use of national databases allowed us to increase spatial and temporal granularity, offering a detailed baseline for the application of prevention and mitigation actions. However, overcoming data limitations is still a challenge in Brazil as in other Global South countries.

Macro-, meso- and microplastic abundance in sandy beaches and factors influencing their distribution in an SW Atlantic resort.

The present study recorded the abundance of plastic debris in marine sediments of tourist beaches in the Southwest Atlantic (Argentina). We aimed to determine the abundance of macro-, meso- and microplastics in different beaches, considering different anthropogenic and natural factors. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were performed and the explanatory factors were: Beach Morphology; Grain Size; Recreational Use Level; Continental Water Discharge, Location, Distance Urban Centre and Season. The Continental Water Discharge was the factor responsible for the highest abundance of plastic debris on the beach surface. Beaches with fine granulometry, between groins, with high to very high intensity of recreational use, tend to accumulate and/or retain greater amounts of plastic debris. The seasonal factor influences the abundance of plastic waste in the central zone between the pre-summer and post-summer seasons, despite the cleaning effect of the city goverment. In beaches with greater anthropogenic pressure, the influence of this factor on the abundance of litter is altered.

Identifying opportunities for harmonized microplastics and mesoplastics monitoring for Caribbean Small Island Developing States using a spatiotemporal assessment of beaches in South Eleuthera, The Bahamas.

Increasing quantities of microplastics and mesoplastics in the marine environment underscore the need for marine microplastics to be included in the global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution. Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) lack harmonized microplastics monitoring protocols, leaving them data deficient at the science-policy interface required for treaty negotiations. This baseline study assessed spatial and seasonal abundance and distribution of microplastic (1-5 mm) and mesoplastic (5-25 mm) on 16 beaches with three coastal exposures (Atlantic Ocean, Exuma Sound, Bahama Bank) in South Eleuthera, The Bahamas and its implications for Caribbean SIDS. Microplastics were the dominant debris type sampled (74 %) across all beaches, with significant spatial (p = 0.0005) and seasonal (p = 0.0363) differences in abundance and distribution across study sites. This baseline study identifies opportunities required for developing harmonized microplastics and mesoplastics monitoring by Caribbean SIDS to collect data to help support global plastics treaty negotiations.