Microplastic burial potential and ecological risks in mangrove forests of the Amazon River delta

Coastal mangrove ecosystems have been shown to be important microplastic (MP) sinks. Yet, information regarding their MP sequestration capacity is scant. Here, we characterized the spatial and vertical distribution of MPs in mangrove ecosystems of the Amazon River delta and quantified, for the first time, their MP burial and potential economic value related to their surface water filtering capacity. Furthermore, we assessed the ecotoxicological risks considering differing effect mechanisms for benthic organisms (i.e., food dilution and translocation-mediated effects). Soil core samples (up to 3 m) were taken from seven locations in the northern part of the Amazon River delta and analyzed for MP contamination. MPs in the 100–5000 μm range were measured and the polymer type was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The collected soil samples were dated based on a radionuclide analysis, and a burial analysis was done based on the sediment mass accumulation rates and the mass concentration of MPs. The outcomes of this study show that MPs are ubiquitous contaminants in mangroves of the Amazon River delta (present in 30 out of the 35 analyzed samples). The largest MP concentration was found in the upper soil layer (0–15 cm), 138 MPs/kg dw, which has been deposited and reworked during the time of the soil core collection. However, moderate exposure levels were also found in older samples (71–138 MPs/kg dw), and in samples taken before the plastic era (≈ 1870–1930), suggesting a downward MP migration. We estimated a mean burial rate of 0.32 ± 0.17 kg of MPs km2/year, which corresponds to 0.55 ± 0.28 tons per year in the Amazon River delta. Based on the estimated burial rate, we valued the removal of MPs from surface waters by these mangroves at 0.3–1.1 million USD per year. Our study shows that the exposure levels of MPs in mangroves of the Amazon River delta are relatively low when compared to other mangrove ecosystems and ecotoxicological risks for benthic organisms are not expected given the current exposure levels. © 2024