Abundancia de microplásticos del agua, sedimento, y en peces y camarones de la cuenca baja del río Lacramarca (Ancash, Perú)

Microplastic (MPs) pollution begins due to anthropogenic activities contaminating rivers, lakes, and seas. The present study aimed to determine the abundance of MPs in water, sediment, fish, and prawns from the lowest basin of the Lacramarca River (Ancash, Peru). The samples came from three stations spanning 5300 m of the riverbed. The shape, size, and color of MPs from water, sediment, fish (Poecilia reticulata, Brycon atrocaudatus, Eretmobrycon peruanus, and Mugil cephalus) and prawns (Cryphiops (Cryphiops) caementarius and Macrobrachium inca) were evaluated. The abundance of MPs in the water and sediment samples were 280 666 MPs/m³ and 2175 MPs/kg, respectively, and mainly fragments (87.5 % and 92.9 %, respectively) were detected with main size classes corresponding to small (10-20 µm) and medium (21-200 µm) size fractions. The fragments were also abundant in fish (from 209.3 to 129.5 MPs/fish) and prawns (145.4 to 158.4 MPs/prawn). Fibers and microspheres had the lowest proportion observed in all samples analyzed (water, sediment, fish, and prawns). The predominant color of the MPs was red, followed by black and blue. The abundance of MPs in the stomach and gills of fish and prawns was positively correlated with MPs in the sediment and water. This study demonstrates for the first time the abundance of MPs (fragments, fibers, and microspheres) in water, sediment, fish, and prawns from the lowest basin of the Lacramarca River, highlighting the negative impact that MPs had in this important ecosystem.