Microplastic Concentrations in Raw and Drinking Water in the Sinos River, Southern Brazil

Abstract

Microplastics are omnipresent in the atmosphere, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, food and beverages. They may cause risks to biodiversity and the human population. The present study aims to assess the concentrations of microplastics in raw and drinking water of the Sinos River in Southern Brazil. The water was collected at eight locations along the Sinos River and in eight residences supplied with treated river water. The samples were processed by dying plastic particles with Nile Red and counting by fluorescence microscopy. River water showed an average of 330.2 particles L−1 and treated water 105.8 particles L−1. Fibers were the most abundant particles shapes in the samples. Particle abundance in the raw water did not follow the urbanization gradient in the Sinos River basin. The exact pathways of microplastic particles remain unidentified, but the predominance of fibers suggests that untreated sewage from washing machines may be a principal source of contamination, particularly in the headwaters. The microplastic in the drinking water is an additional factor to be considered in conservation efforts aiming at improving water quality in the Sinos River basin.

The Toxicity of Polyester Fibers in Xenopuslaevis

“…The high toxicity of PEFs can also be deduced from our results by SEM. The evident mucous coating observed in samples from 1 µg mL −1 PEF (Figure 7C,D) well agree with data from the literature which reported that MPs are known to cause local inflammation in the intestine [35,37,45,46]. As a response to the presence of exogenous materials, the digestive epithelium replies with the production of mucous, which works with double action: (i) forming a first defense line against possible bacterial infection; and (ii) trying to facilitate their elimination via the gastrointestinal tract.…”

Presence and Quantification of Microplastic in Urban Tap Water: A Pre-Screening in Brasilia, Brazil

“…Our results showed that all samples presented microplastic particles; however, the water from the North Wing area presented a higher mean of MPs (219 MP/500 mL of water) than the South Wing (97 MP/500 mL of water), and MP size ranged from 6-50 microns. In Brazil, researchers on MPs follow the global pattern, with most publications focusing on coastal and marine ecosystems [1,36,52,53].…”

“…Tap water contamination is of great concern because of its daily consumption, including its uses in cooking and washing fruits and vegetables. Despite evidence of widespread contamination [18,[35][36][37][38], we are still unsure about the health effects of this steady, daily MP diet [39]. However, Swan and Colino (2021), in their book Count Down, argue that continuous exposure to endocrine disrupters such as Bisphenol A and phthalates found in plastic is responsible for, among others, increased infertility problems and obesity rates [40].…”

Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities

“…Research conducted on the presence and characterization of microplastics in raw and treated drinking water from treatment plants within the Czech Republic found that whilst treatment removed microplastics >100 µm, they were inefficient at removing the smaller size ranges, particularly <10 µm [35]. Similarly, although the treatment of river water reduced the average microplastic concentration from 330.2 particles L −1 to 105.8 particles L −1 , a significant number of microplastics remained in the drinking water of the Sinos River in Southern Brazil [36]. The high proportion of fibers suggests that washing machine effluent may be a significant source of microplastics in the water source.…”