Contaminação de microplásticos nos igarapés da área urbana do município de Itacoatiara (AM)

Abstract

Plastic pollution is a threat to society caused mainly by anthropic factors. Plastics, when exposed to ambient conditions, can be fragmented into different shapes, colors and sizes, being classified as mega, macro, meso and microplastics (MPs). Rivers and streams are the main bodies of water used as a means of transporting these pollutants to the oceans. The objective of this work was to analyze the presence of microplastics in surface waters and sediments of streams (Ingaipáua; Jauary; Doca and Serpa) con nected to the Amazon River in the urban area of the Municipality of Itacoatiara (AM). Samples of surface water and sediments from streams were collected during the dry and high seasons. The results show PM contamination in surface water and sediment samples in all urban streams analyzed. The highest MPs abundance recorded was from 1 to 5 mm in dark blue color and fiber shape. The concentration of PMs in surface water samples is not directly correlated with the abundance of PMs in the sediments (N=12; rs= -0.104; p>0.05). The results show that only 2 streams (Jauary and Serpa) in the dry season were draining into the Amazon River, with an average estimate of MPs quantity of 0.010 MPs/s for Igarapé do Jauary and 0.000438 MPs/s for the Serpa Igarapé, respectively. Information on the presence and mobility of PMs in water bodies in the Amazon region is important for future studies on the environmental impacts that these pollutants can cause in aquatic ecosystems.