Microplastics found in Amazonian wildlife and remote protected areas

Recent studies have identified microplastic contamination across diverse species in the Amazon rainforest, including fish, tapirs, crabs, and bats. The pollution has been detected even within protected areas far from urban centers, such as Anavilhanas National Park.

In Prato Lake, researchers found an average concentration of 0.25 microplastic particles per liter of water. Approximately 80% of the fish analyzed contained microplastics in their digestive tracts, averaging 3.3 particles per individual, regardless of their feeding habits.

Contamination spreads through the region's interconnected aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, moving from small forest streams known as igarapés to the mouth of the Amazon River. This movement is evidenced by birds constructing nests using plastic debris. Adalberto Val, a biologist from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), noted that the connectivity of Amazonian aquatic environments allows plastic to reach even the most remote locations.