Plastic pollution on the Colombian central Caribbean beaches
2021
Rangel-Buitrago, Nelson | Mendoza, Anubis Velez | Mantilla-Barbosa, Egna | Arroyo-Olarte, Harry | Arana, Victoria Andrea | Trilleras, Jorge | Gracia C, Adriana | Neal, William J. | Williams, Allan T.
Along 24 beaches of the Central Caribbean Coast of Colombia, plastic items were collected and grouped into 43 different typologies. The average plastic abundance was 4.54 items/m² being eight typologies responsible for 82% of all plastic collected. The application of the Clean Coast Index (CCI) and the Plastic Abundance Index (PAI) allows categorization of the study area as “Extremely Dirty” coastal strip with a “Very High Abundance” of plastics. Beaches were statistically grouped into three specific types: moderate, bad and extremely bad environmental conditions. The typology and magnitudes of plastics found in the study area suggest a combination of sources that primarily include dumping and direct activities on the beach. Plastic medical and sanitary waste, ocean/waterway items, and plastic items related to smoking-related activities also were observed.
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