First evidence of microplastics in Cienfuegos bay, Cuba

Abstract

García Chamero, A., Alonso Hernández, C.M., Chamero Lago, D. 2020. First evidence of microplastics in Cienfuegos bay, Cuba. Ecosistemas 29(3):2085. https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.2085

In recent decades plastic debris have been recognized as emerging marine pollutants of great concern, due to their persistence, omnipresence and its potential to accumulate toxic organic pollutants. Previous studies have reported the highest accumulation of microplastics in closed bays with industrial activity. In Cienfuegos Bay, different pollutants have been quantified, but there are no reported studies of microplastics. In this work we set out to study water, sediment and Perna viridis of Cienfuegos Bay to evaluate the presence and density of microplastics. Results showed presence of microplastics in all bay stations during the two seasons, dry and rain, with an abundance of 49562.5 and 5093.75 microplastics/m3 respectively in water, 357.14 and 852.86 microplastics/kg respectively in sediment, and with 15.7 and 5.8 microplastics/g respectively in Perna viridis. Results showed higher values than those recorded in the literature for most cases, this being the main conclusion of the study. This work is the first approach to the study of microplastics in coastal ecosystems of Cuba.