Microplastic pollution in water, sediments and commercial fish species from Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta lagoon complex, Colombian Caribbean

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 829; p. 154643
• Main Authors: Garcés-Ordóñez, Ostin, Saldarriaga-Vélez, Juan F., Espinosa-Díaz, Luisa F., Patiño, Albert D., Cusba, José, Canals, Miquel, Mejía-Esquivia, Kevin, Fragozo-Velásquez, Laura, Sáenz-Arias, Sol, Córdoba-Meza, Tania, Thiel, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.07.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Coastal lagoon; Colombia; Colombian Caribbean; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Fishing resources; Humans; Microplastics; Plastics; Polyethylene; Polymer characterization; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Colombia; Colombian Caribbean; Polymer characterization; Microplastics; Fishing resources; Coastal lagoon
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154643

Microplastics are emerging pollutants that have been found in different environmental matrices of marine and coastal ecosystems, where they can generate harmful ecological impacts. Little is known about the current state of microplastic pollution in fragile tropical lagoon ecosystems, such as Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM) in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. This study assesses microplastic pollution in surface waters and sediments, and the occurrence of microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species from CGSM. In waters, microplastic abundances ranged from 0.0 to 0.3 items L−1 while in sediments they varied from 0.0 to 3.1 items kg−1. The most abundant types of microplastics are fibers and fragments, with polypropylene, polyethylene and high-density polyethylene as the most abundant polymers. Also, 100 (i.e. 21.1%) out of 474 individuals from nine fish species had microplastics in their digestive tracts. Microplastics present in water and sediments and in the digestive tract of the analyzed fish species have similar characteristics, also showing a moderate and statistically significant association. Microplastic abundances are higher near river mouths and in urban areas with a high density of fishing activities and aquaculture infrastructures, which are important sources of contaminants. Microplastic pollution in CGSM represents a threat to the lagoon ecosystem and to local people depending on artisanal fishing. Consequently, effective actions to reduce pollution and its socio-environmental impacts are urgently required. [Display omitted] •First assessment of microplastics in water and sediments of a large lagoon in Colombian Caribbean•0–0.3 items L−1 and 0–3.1 items kg−1 recorded in water and sediment samples, respectively•The highest microplastic pollution occurs near urban areas and river mouths.•21.1% of 474 fish from nine commercial species had microplastics in their digestive tract.•Microplastic found in water, sediments and fishes have similar characteristics.