CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN MARINE SEDIMENTS FROM THE GULF OF TEHUANTEPEC, MEXICAN PACIFIC

Microplastics (MPs), a universal pollutant is widely distributed in sediments, which attracted the environmental researchers worldwide. MPs are harmful may adsorb toxic compounds present in the environment, which can be ingested by benthic organisms and easily transfer to humans. We investigated the distribution of MPs and its types in beach sediments from the Tehuantepec River mouth, Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexican Pacific coast. MPs are categorized by their size, shape, color, and polymer types. 73 % of MPs detected are < 5 mm in size. Fiber and colorless are mostly dominated in all samples. The fibers are weathered and degraded with adhered particles on their surfaces. The polymer types detected are polyacrylamide (PAM) and poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), which are rarely reported in Mexico beach sediments. The prevalence of colorless MPs at the Gulf of Tehuantepec beach needs further attention.