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Marine litter pollution in a subantarctic beach of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas, Chile

2024; Elsevier BV; Volume: 202; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116313

1879-3363

Carla Ximena Salinas, Elaine Palacios, Karla Pozo, Mariett Torres, Lorena Rebolledo, Victoria Gómez, Rodolfo Rondón, Ignacia de la Maza, Cristobal Galbán‐Malagón,

Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

This study assessed the presence of marine litter along the beach of the city of Punta Arenas, Chile. The sampling period coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 239 plastic waste items were identified out of a total of 638 litter items. The Clean Coast Index reported within this study ranged from Clean (CCI 2-5) to Extremely dirty (CCI >20), especially near the port. The majority of litter items has been classified as originating from varied origins, as it is not possible to pinpoint a precise origin in most items. The results indicate that the predominant plastic litter in Punta Arenas is PVC. The results are discussed in relation to the sources and composition of the residues, the morpho dynamics of the coast, and the CCI is compared with other locations around the globe.