IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN SEDIMENTS FROM THE SUBMARINE OUTFALL OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, MAR DEL PLATA CITY (ARGENTINA).
Autor/es:
DÍAZ JARAMILLO, M.; GONZALEZ, M.; ISLAS, M.S.; RODRIGUEZ, F.
Lugar:
Lanzarote
Reunión:
Congreso; Micro 2020: Fate and impacts of microplastics: Knoledge and responsabilities; 2020
Resumen:
Despite widespread detection of microplastic pollution in the marine environment, data describing microplastic inputs to the coast of Argentina are scarce. Particularly, the dis- charge of municipal wastewater treatment plant is considered an important pathway for microplastic to aquatic environments, but only a few studies are available. Mar del Plata city (38o S, 57o W), is the main touristic resort of the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Wastew- ater plant from Mar del Plata city (Argentina) discharges into marine environment (4 km offshore) by a submarine outfall. Although this outfall is working since 2014, diminishing the biological and chemical pollution of nearest coastal areas, its role as microplastics source to the marine environment was not evaluated. This work, showed a preliminary study of microplastic occurrence and characteristics in subtidal sediments (11-21 mt deep) from two sites located close to the submarine outfall of wastewater plant. The microplastic content (n: 3 samples per site) was determined by floating method using a zinc chloride (ZnCl2) solu- tion. No significant differences were found between sites (p> 0.05). Mean total microplastic abundance in sediments between both sampling sites ranged from 411 to 547 items per kg d.w. The presence of fibers (40-72%), fragments (12-31.5%), films (12.1-29%) and foam (0- 4%) were detected as probable microplastic particles. Transparent (34.7%), white (24.2%), black (13.8%) and red (10.8%) type particles were observed as the main color contribution of microplastic. The results obtained represent a first approach to determine the presence of microplastics in sediments under the influence of the submarine outfall from wastewater treatment plant in Argentinian coastal cities. This work is part of UE-CONICET project ?Coastal ecosystems: Structure, functioning, dynamics and management strategies?.