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

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  • Claudia B. Pratesi

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Maria Aparecida A. L. Santos Almeida

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Geysa S. Cutrim Paz

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Marcelo H. Ramos Teotonio

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Lenora Gandolfi

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Riccardo Pratesi

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Mariana Hecht

    (Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Medicine, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
    Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

  • Renata Puppin Zandonadi

    (Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasilia (UnB), Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil)

Abstract

Plastic pollution is a rapidly growing environmental and human health crisis, with no sign of improvement. From 2012 to 2020, the number of studies on plastic pollution increased, and macro to nano-sized plastics have been documented in the most remote biomes of the planet. Studies have shown contamination by microplastics (MPs) in various types of food consumed by humans, including seafood, honey, sugar, salt, tap and bottled water and beer. This study’s objective was to detect the possible contamination by MPs in drinking water samples collected from two main residential and commercial areas of Brasilia. A total of 32 samples (500 mL) of tap water were collected from residential and commercial areas. Samples were processed and transferred to a Sedgewick-Rafter counting cell chamber. The presence of MP particles was analyzed using a Nikon Eclipse fluorescence microscope. MPs were found in 100% of the samples. The mean microplastic particles per 500 mL found in the South Wing area was 97 ± 55, while the mean number of particles in the North Wing area was 219 ± 158, and the MPs found ranged in size from 6–50 microns. The study results reveal a disturbing amount of MP particles in Brasilia’s tap water. This surprising number of particles in residential and commercial tap water is especially considering that tap water is not the only source of MPs to which people are exposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia B. Pratesi & Maria Aparecida A. L. Santos Almeida & Geysa S. Cutrim Paz & Marcelo H. Ramos Teotonio & Lenora Gandolfi & Riccardo Pratesi & Mariana Hecht & Renata Puppin Zandonadi, 2021. "Presence and Quantification of Microplastic in Urban Tap Water: A Pre-Screening in Brasilia, Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6404-:d:568879
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ilka Peeken & Sebastian Primpke & Birte Beyer & Julia Gütermann & Christian Katlein & Thomas Krumpen & Melanie Bergmann & Laura Hehemann & Gunnar Gerdts, 2018. "Arctic sea ice is an important temporal sink and means of transport for microplastic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Donghui He & Keith Bristow & Vilim Filipović & Jialong Lv & Hailong He, 2020. "Microplastics in Terrestrial Ecosystems: A Scientometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-15, October.
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