Is marine debris ingestion still a problem for the coastal marine biota of southern Brazil?

Abstract

The accumulation of synthetic debris in marine and coastal environments is a consequence of the intensive and continuous release of these highly persistent materials. This study investigates the current status of marine debris ingestion by sea turtles and seabirds found along the southern Brazilian coast. All green turtles (n=34) and 40% of the seabirds (14 of 35) were found to have ingested debris. No correlation was found between the number of ingested items and turtle's size or weight. Most items were found in the intestine. Plastic was the main ingested material. Twelve Procellariiformes (66%), two Sphenisciformes (22%), but none of the eight Charadriiformes were found to be contaminated. Procellariiformes ingested the majority of items. Plastic was also the main ingested material. The ingestion of debris by turtles is probably an increasing problem on southern Brazilian coast. Seabirds feeding by diverse methods are contaminated, highlighting plastic hazard to these biota.

Plastic ingestion by sea turtles in Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil

“…Estimates reveal that at least 5.25 trillions of plastic particles are currently floating in the sea, totaling 268,940 tons (Eriksen et al, 2014). Once in the environment, plastics can impact wildlife in a number of ways, including entanglement and ingestion (Tourinho et al, 2010). Plastic ingestion by seabirds, turtles, marine mammals, fishes, and invertebrates has been widely reported over the last decades (Laist, 1997;Stamper et al, 2006;Graham & Thompson, 2009;Schuyler et al, 2012).…”

“…Related sublethal effects also include damage to the gastrointestinal tract such as necrosis and ulceration (Bjorndal, 1997), and loss of buoyancy control due to the increased time food remains in intestinal tract compartments, accumulating gas in the intestine (George, 1997). Lethal effects occur when residues directly obstruct the digestive tract, blocking the passage of food (Bjorndal et al, 1994;Bugoni et al, 2001;Tourinho et al, 2010).…”

“…In Brazil, the few studies that report plastic ingestion by sea turtles were conducted in the southern portion of the country (e.g., Bugoni et al, 2001;Tourinho et al, 2010). In Paraíba State, there is a single published record of plastic ingestion by one green and one olive ridley turtle (Mascarenhas et al, 2004).…”

Oceanografia e Química: unindo conhecimentos em prol dos oceanos e da sociedade

“…55 A presença de itens plásticos em praias e nos oceanos de todo o mundo é uma preocupação típica do pós II Guerra Mundial e foi estudada desde a década de 1970. No Brasil, desde a década de 1990, 51 o lixo marinho tem sido investigado em relação às suas características de composição, 56 tamanho, [57][58][59] fonte mais provável, 60 incrustações biológicas, 61 comportamento espaço-temporal 51,62,63 e percepção das pessoas quanto ao fenômeno. Também foi levada em consideração a possível ação tóxica dos plásticos e substâncias a eles associadas para humanos 64 e organismos marinhos.…”

“…Também foi levada em consideração a possível ação tóxica dos plásticos e substâncias a eles associadas para humanos 64 e organismos marinhos. 63,65,66 Houve estudos produzidos tanto em praias urbanas 60,62 quanto rurais, 57,67 assim como em ilhas. 68,69 Todos esses estudos foram reconhecidos como uma contribuição importante das áreas de química (principalmente da química analítica) 70 Hoje sabe-se que, seguindo as tendências globais, praticamente qualquer praia da extensa costa brasileira está em menor ou maior grau contaminada pela presença de plásticos.…”