Effect of urbanization and water quality on microplastic distribution in Conceição Lagoon watershed, Brazil

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-04, Vol.31 (20), p.28870-28889
• Main Authors: de Castro, Daniela Grijó, Lemes da Silva, Aurea Luiza, das Neves Lopes, Michelle, Freire, Andrea Santarosa, Leite, Nei Kavaguichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Brazil; Dissolved oxygen; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Lagoons; Microplastics; Microplastics - analysis; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Pollution; Research Article; Temporal variations; Tributaries; Urbanization; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater discharges; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Water Quality; Water temperature; Watersheds; Wind speed
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33029-y

Urbanization in watersheds leads to the introduction of sources of microplastics and other pollutants in water bodies. However, the effect of urbanization on microplastic pollution and the relationship between microplastics and water quality are not well understood. We assessed the distribution of microplastics in tributaries urbanized, non-urbanized and in the receiving lagoon body of Conceição Lagoon watershed. The results show that urbanization significantly affects water quality but does not differentiate tributaries in terms of microplastic concentrations. Microplastic concentrations were lower in the receiving lagoon body compared with the tributaries, highlighting their importance in microplastic pollution in the studied lagoon. Microplastic concentration was correlated with low N:P ratios in the lagoon and associated with high levels of total phosphorus, which indicate the discharge of effluents. The correlations between microplastic concentration, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen in the lagoon were based on the temporal variations of these variables. Precipitation and wind velocity had influence on microplastic distribution in the watershed. Our findings underscore the importance of evaluating water quality parameters and meteorological variables to comprehend the microplastic distribution at small watersheds.