Microplastics pollution on Colombian Central Caribbean beaches

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Pollution Studies

Background:

• Microplastics (MPs) are a growing environmental concern globally.
• Previous litter studies on Colombia's Central Caribbean Coast lacked detailed MP analysis.
• This research addresses the knowledge gap regarding MP typology, magnitude, and distribution in this region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a baseline study of microplastic pollution on 23 beaches along Colombia's Central Caribbean Coast.
• To develop and apply novel indices (MPPI, CMPI, ESI) for assessing microplastic impact.
• To map and analyze the distribution and typology of microplastics.

Main Methods:

• Developed and applied the Microplastics Pollution Index (MPPI) and Coefficient of Microplastic Impact (CMPI).
• Utilized the Environmental Status Index (ESI) and integrated it through sector analysis.
• Employed Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering, Multidimensional Scaling, and Principal Components Analysis for mapping and statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Microplastic abundances ranged from 557 to 2457 MPs/kg, comparable to global averages.
• The MPPI classified 8 beaches as "Moderate," 10 as "High," and 5 as "Very High" in pollution levels.
• Microplastic fibers constituted 83% of the total microplastics found across the studied beaches.

Conclusions:

• Microplastic pollution is a significant issue on the Central Colombian Caribbean Coast.
• The developed indices provide a robust framework for assessing and comparing microplastic pollution.
• Microplastic fibers are the predominant form of pollution, indicating potential sources that require further investigation.