Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The
contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking
model approach

J 2025

Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking model approach

RECABARREN, Tatiana; Mariett TORRES; Camila JACOBSEN; Katerine POZO; Lautaro GIRONES et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking model approach

Authors

RECABARREN, Tatiana; Mariett TORRES; Camila JACOBSEN; Katerine POZO; Lautaro GIRONES; Andres ARIAS; Roberto URRUTIA; Guozhu YE; Petra PŘIBYLOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution); Jana KLÁNOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution); Ramon AHUMADA and Karla Andrea POZO (380 Italy, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Environmental Pollution, Elsevier Science, 2025, 0269-7491

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

10511 Environmental sciences

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 7.300 in 2024

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196

UT WoS

001477657000001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-105002914454

Keywords in English

Plastic pollution; River tributaries; Synthetic fibers; OpenDrift; Particle trajectory; Chilean coast

Abstract

In the original language

Microplastic (MPs) pollution is a global concern that affects all environments. Rivers have been identified as a major transport route for MPs from land to oceans. In this context, we evaluated the MP contribution from the Biobío River, one of the most important rivers in Chile, to the ocean. MPs were collected from superficial water throughout the entire Biobío River basin (and its tributaries) during the summer and winter of 2022. The samples were physically (color, size, and shape) and chemically (polymeric composition) analyzed using a microscope, a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and a micro-FTIR. Results showed evident seasonal variations, with a significant increase (∼20 times average) in microplastic concentration (particles/day) in winter (7 × 105-1x108) compared to summer (4 × 103-7x105). Fibers were the dominant morphology with polyethylene terephthalate (PET; 20–40 %) and polypropylene (PP; 20–50 %) as the most abundant polymers. The river downstream showed the highest sample particle diversity (e.g., size, color, and polymeric composition). The river's behavior suggests a main role as a “Reservoir”, corresponding to ∼40–50 % retention of microplastic in the midstream of the Biobío River. Furthermore, a preliminary evaluation using the OpenDrift model, indicated that particles coming from the Biobío River were mainly stranded on the Gulf of Arauco coast (≈100 %), suggesting a potential accumulation zone. This study contributes crucial information to understanding the behavior of plastic pollution in freshwater courses and its likely impacts on the coastal environments.

Links

LM2023069, research and development project

Name: Výzkumná infrastruktura RECETOX

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, RECETOX research infrastructure

Cite

RECABARREN, Tatiana; Mariett TORRES; Camila JACOBSEN; Katerine POZO; Lautaro GIRONES; Andres ARIAS; Roberto URRUTIA; Guozhu YE; Petra PŘIBYLOVÁ; Jana KLÁNOVÁ; Ramon AHUMADA and Karla Andrea POZO. Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking model approach. Environmental Pollution. Elsevier Science, 2025, vol. 374, June 2025, p. 1-10. ISSN 0269-7491. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196.

@article{2508026,
   author = {Recabarren, Tatiana and Torres, Mariett and Jacobsen, Camila and Pozo, Katerine and Girones, Lautaro and Arias, Andres and Urrutia, Roberto and Ye, Guozhu and Přibylová, Petra and Klánová, Jana and Ahumada, Ramon and Pozo, Karla Andrea},
   article_number = {June 2025},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196},
   keywords = {Plastic pollution; River tributaries; Synthetic fibers; OpenDrift; Particle trajectory; Chilean coast},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0269-7491},
   journal = {Environmental Pollution},
   title = {Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking model approach},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026974912500569X?via%3Dihub},
   volume = {374},
   year = {2025}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2508026
AU  - Recabarren, Tatiana - Torres, Mariett - Jacobsen, Camila - Pozo, Katerine - Girones, Lautaro - Arias, Andres - Urrutia, Roberto - Ye, Guozhu - Přibylová, Petra - Klánová, Jana - Ahumada, Ramon - Pozo, Karla Andrea
PY  - 2025
TI  - Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking model approach
JF  - Environmental Pollution
VL  - 374
IS  - June 2025
SP  - 1-10
EP  - 1-10
PB  - Elsevier Science
SN  - 02697491
KW  - Plastic pollution
KW  - River tributaries
KW  - Synthetic fibers
KW  - OpenDrift
KW  - Particle trajectory
KW  - Chilean coast
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026974912500569X?via%3Dihub
N2  - Microplastic (MPs) pollution is a global concern that affects all environments. Rivers have been identified as a major transport route for MPs from land to oceans. In this context, we evaluated the MP contribution from the Biobío River, one of the most important rivers in Chile, to the ocean. MPs were collected from superficial water throughout the entire Biobío River basin (and its tributaries) during the summer and winter of 2022. The samples were physically (color, size, and shape) and chemically (polymeric composition) analyzed using a microscope, a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and a micro-FTIR. Results showed evident seasonal variations, with a significant increase (∼20 times average) in microplastic concentration (particles/day) in winter (7 × 105-1x108) compared to summer (4 × 103-7x105). Fibers were the dominant morphology with polyethylene terephthalate (PET; 20–40 %) and polypropylene (PP; 20–50 %) as the most abundant polymers. The river downstream showed the highest sample particle diversity (e.g., size, color, and polymeric composition). The river's behavior suggests a main role as a “Reservoir”, corresponding to ∼40–50 % retention of microplastic in the midstream of the Biobío River. Furthermore, a preliminary evaluation using the OpenDrift model, indicated that particles coming from the Biobío River were mainly stranded on the Gulf of Arauco coast (≈100 %), suggesting a potential accumulation zone. This study contributes crucial information to understanding the behavior of plastic pollution in freshwater courses and its likely impacts on the coastal environments.
ER  -

RECABARREN, Tatiana; Mariett TORRES; Camila JACOBSEN; Katerine POZO; Lautaro GIRONES; Andres ARIAS; Roberto URRUTIA; Guozhu YE; Petra PŘIBYLOVÁ; Jana KLÁNOVÁ; Ramon AHUMADA and Karla Andrea POZO. Land-ocean export of microplastic in central Chile: The contribution of the Biobio River using a particle tracking model approach. \textit{Environmental Pollution}. Elsevier Science, 2025, vol.~374, June 2025, p.~1-10. ISSN~0269-7491. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126196.

Přehled o publikaci