What do we know about plastic pollution in Brazilian aquatic ecosystems?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecotoxicology
• Marine Biology

Background:

• Aquatic ecosystems face increasing plastic pollution due to human activities and inadequate disposal.
• This study reviews research on plastic particle pollution in Brazilian aquatic environments, focusing on inland areas and fish.
• A significant knowledge gap exists regarding the ecological impacts of plastic pollution in Brazilian freshwater systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze plastic particle pollution in Brazilian aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on inland environments and fish.
• To identify existing research gaps concerning plastic pollution in Brazil.
• To highlight the need for increased research and funding for studies on freshwater biota.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of manuscripts published in the last 21 years.
• Indexed in the Web of Science database.
• Inclusion criteria: empirical data, conducted in Brazil, focused on plastic pollution.

Main Results:

• 185 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria, with a rising trend in publications over the years.
• Most studies focus on marine ecosystems (89%) and plastic detection in biota (51%), particularly fish (75%).
• Limited research addresses the bio-ecological data (18%) or chemical characterization (17%) of plastic particles in fish.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for more research on plastic particle pollution in Brazilian inland aquatic ecosystems and its effects on freshwater fish.
• Increased funding and specific calls for research are essential to address plastic pollution impacts on freshwater biota across Brazil's macro-regions.
• Future studies should prioritize chemical characterization and bio-ecological data of plastic particles in fish from diverse Brazilian aquatic environments.