Project MicroMar: Mapping Brazil's Hidden Plastic Footprint
Project MicroMar represents the most extensive study on microplastic contamination ever conducted in both Brazil and the Global South. The large-scale national survey has revealed the depth of pollution along Brazil’s coastlines, marking an unprecedented overview of the nation’s shoreline conditions.
Origins and Development
The project was initiated as part of the PhD research by Thiarlen Marinho da Luz from the Goiano Federal Institute (IF Goiano) and the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). Between April 2023 and April 2024, the MICROMar team executed a rigorous sampling campaign across the Brazilian coast.
Scope and Methodology
- 4,134 sediment samples collected
- 1,024 beaches surveyed
- 211 municipalities across 17 coastal states included
- Approximately 7,500 kilometers of shoreline covered
Findings and Environmental Concerns
The researchers documented microplastics on 69.3% of Brazil’s beaches, uncovering sharp regional variations and some unexpected hotspots. Though Brazil’s beaches—from the Amazon estuary to the southern plains—appear clean and boundless, the study revealed a hidden layer of contamination beneath the surface.
“The MICROMar team cataloged 24,549 microplastic particles between 300 micrometers and 5 millimeters, identifying the materials from which these fragments are made, where they cluster, and how risk varies from state to state.”
Environmental Implications
This research highlights the scale of invisible pollution affecting Brazil’s coastal ecosystems and underscores the urgent need for monitoring and mitigation policies.
Author’s Summary
The MICROMar project exposes Brazil’s vast but unseen coastal pollution problem, mapping microplastics from the Amazon delta to the southern shores with unprecedented precision.