Research has found pollution present in the most restrictive environmental protection areas of Brazil where there is little human contact, posing potential risks to marine ecosystems and food chains.
A recent study by Australian and Brazilian scientists from the Federal University of São Paulo, found marine protected areas MPAs classified as integral protection areas (APIs), which are the most restrictive to human intervention, are contaminated by microplastics.
Italo Braga, Research Coordinator said national parks are highly protected, while others, such as some allow some degree of human intervention.
“Our study focused on integral protection areas, called ‘no-takes’ in the specialized international literature, which are more restrictive marine protected areas,” said Braga.
Braga said contamination was found in places where there’s no economic activity and tourists aren’t allowed to visit, such as Atol das Rocas.
“Microplastics can reach places like this by being carried by the wind or ocean currents,” said Braga.
Microplastics are particles ranging in size that result from the fragmentation of larger plastics or are directly manufactured for industrial or cosmetic use.
Those detected in the study showed consistent patterns along the Brazilian coast were predominantly black, white or transparent, and less than one millimetre in size.
Oysters, clams, mussels and others were chosen for the study because they are considered sentinels of the sea.
Braga said they feed by filtering seawater and the food in the water is retained in their gills, which act as sieves.
“Tiny cilia carry it to their stomachs and if that water contains contaminants, such as microplastics, the bivalves will retain them as well,” said Braga.
“So instead of taking water samples, which vary all the time, we analyse the molluscs because they accumulate pollutants over time and provide a more reliable history of contamination.”
Braga said the creation of MPAs alone isn’t enough to stop pollution.
“It’s essential that these areas have efficient environmental management and strict enforcement,” said Braga.
“Even this isn’t enough if we consider that the microplastics may not be generated locally but brought in from afar by the atmosphere and ocean currents.
“To mitigate this, only global measures, such as the Global Plastics Treaty currently being negotiated and developed under the coordination of the United Nations Environment Program can make a difference.”
For more information, visit: www.sciencedirect.com/
Related stories:
AI program to tackle microplastics
Breakthrough in recycling microplastics
Plant-based plastic releases nine times less microplastics than conventional plastic
