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Microplastics (MPs) contamination is a well-established impact in oceans, but integrated approaches combining simultaneous analyzes of biotic and abiotic components are scarce. This study addresses this gap, demonstrating Atherinella brasiliensis (fish species) ingestion of MPs and comparing with the contaminant presence in water and sediment. Three Ubatuba beaches (exposed, calm and sheltered estuary) were surveyed for fish, water, and sediment components in summer and winter. Environmental data evidenced spatial and seasonal differences (PCA/ANOVA). Presence of synthetic particles (SPs) in fish was high (~38%). Maximum concentrations occurred in the estuary, for water (490 SPs/m³), and in the exposed beach, for sediment (62 SPs/50g). Fibers format predominated in all components. Fish preference for blue color seems to occur. Significant statistical relationships were determined for fish length and SPs size and between SPs concentrations in water and fish. The chemical identities (µ-FTIR spectra) polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyester, and cardboard/cellulose predominated. Influences of local hydrodynamics (e.g., SPs sizes) and reduction in tourism during Covid-19 epidemic (e.g., less SPs in summer) are discussed. This study confirms environmental contamination by SPs (mostly MPs) in Ubatuba beaches, affecting fish through direct water column ingestion. Urgent actions from authorities and changes in local user's habits are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination by microplastics (MPs) has been recorded in various environments and organisms around the world. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of MPs in two species of Siluriformes fishes Pterygoplichthys pardalis and Hoplosternum littorale considering the sex and different body parts of fish captured in Amazon floodplain areas, which are marketed and consumed in the Municipality of Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Brazil. One hundred and fifty individuals of each fish species were analyzed for microplastics. Of these, 252 individuals were found to contain MPs: 127 (85%) P. pardalis and 125 (83%) H. littorale. The fish were contaminated with 683 MP particles, ranging from 1 to 43 MP particles/individual, with an average of 2.71 ± 3.2 MP particles/individual P. pardalis and H. littorale. Comparison of MP occurrence and particle size between species, sex, and body part found no significant difference. Fiber-shaped and blue-colored MPs were the most abundant in both P. pardalis (80% and 85.5%, respectively) and H. littorale (92% and 85%, respectively). The particles were identified as polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. The results indicate MP contamination in P. pardalis and H. littorale catfish, which are widely consumed by Amazonian riverside communities. These species are often cooked whole (including the viscera) becoming a direct route of microplastic contamination to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics have quickly become one of the major pollutants in aquatic environments worldwide and solving the plastic pollution crisis is considered a central goal of modern society. In this study, 10 different plastic samples, including high‐ and low‐density polyethylene and polypropylene, were collected from a deeply polluted urban estuary in Brazil. By employing different isolation and analysis approaches to investigate plastic‐associated bacteria, a predominance of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, and Vibrio was observed throughout all plastic samples. Bacteria typically found in the aquatic environment harboured clinically relevant genes encoding resistance to carbapenems (blaKPC) and colistin (such as mcr‐3 and mcr‐4), along with genetic determinants associated with potentially active gene mobilization. Whole genome sequencing and annotation of three plastic‐associated Vibrio strains further demonstrated the carriage of mobile genetic elements and antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. On the other hand, bacteria isolated from the same samples were also able to produce esterases, lipases, and bioemulsifiers, thus highlighting that the plastisphere could also be of special interest from a biotechnological perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of a biorefinery, lignocellulosic materials represent an important source of raw material for the bioconversion of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin into value-added products, such as xylose for fermentation, oligosaccharides, and bioplastics for packaging. Among the most abundant lignocellulosic materials in Brazil, sugarcane bagasse biomass stands out, as it is rich in cellulose and hemicellulose. In this context, through an experimental design, this study developed a robust enzyme cocktail containing xylanases and accessory enzymes to complete the hydrolysis of xylan from sugarcane bagasse, obtaining a low xylose yield and concentration (9% and 1.8 g/L, respectively, observed in experiment number 16 from the complete hydrolysis of a xylan assay), a fermentable sugar that is important in the production of second-generation ethanol, and a high xylooligosaccharides (XOS) yield and concentration (93.1% and 19.6 g/L, respectively, obtained from a xylooligosaccharides production assay); in general, xylan has prebiotic activities that favor an improvement in intestinal functions, with immunological and antimicrobial actions and other benefits to human health. In addition to completely hydrolyzing the sugarcane bagasse xylan, this enzymatic cocktail has great potential to be applied in other sources of lignocellulosic biomass for the conversion of xylan into xylose and XOS due to its enzymes content, involving both main chain and pendant groups hydrolysis of hemicelluloses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic has been present in our lives for the past century as an essential material for many commodity items. However, the same properties that make plastic convenient are also responsible for the current dramatic environmental pollution. As an alternative, most of the world has been working with technological innovations, and one of its strategies is the use of bioplastics. Despite being considered environmentally beneficial by some people, there are still developments and discussions that need to be made. This article aims to present a legislative review and discusses the difficulty in implementing policies related to the incentive of the bioplastics market, as well as presenting some state and municipal laws, already prohibiting single-use plastics in Brazil. These laws aim to encourage the substitution of these plastics for biodegradable ones. However, it still has gaps and a lack of clarification on how the banning of disposable plastics and their substitution will be beneficial since composting is still an incipient process in the country. It is also the purpose of this article to discuss the challenges in the context of the Circular Economy, as well as the potential solution based on the creation of public policies aimed at improving waste management, in addition to clearer legislation on alternatives to single-use plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution is ubiquitous in freshwater environments, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Plastic particles can accumulate in the sediment mainly in lentic environments offering several risks to the benthic community. While there are records on the distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems worldwide, limited research has been conducted on their distribution in reservoirs in the Southern Hemisphere. We investigated the levels of microplastic pollution in the sediments from the Billings Reservoir, Brazil, located in an area with high anthropogenic activities. Microplastics were recovered from all sediment samples, indicating their extensive distribution in the reservoir. Microplastic abundance in the sediment ranged from 11,800 to 31,900 particles.kg−1 dry weight. We observed different abundances between the shapes of microplastics: fiber > fragment > film > foam. Colorless fibers were the most abundant particles and small-sized (100 – 300 µm) microplastics were predominant. Of all the microplastics identified by FTIR, polyethylene was the most common type (25.0%), followed by polycarbonate, polypropylene, and nitrocellulose, each polymer representing 15.0% of the analyzed particles. The entry and the damming area of the reservoir seem to be more susceptible to the accumulation of microplastics in the sediment. This study was the first to report microplastic pollution in a Brazilian reservoir, which elucidates the incipience of the studies investigating microplastic pollution in Brazil. [Display omitted] • Tropical reservoirs are potential accumulation zones for microplastics. • High amounts of microplastics (20070 ± 6671.8 particles.kg−1) were found in Billings Reservoir. • Fibers were the most predominant shape in the sediment, followed by fragments. • PE, PC, PP, and nitrocellulose are the most frequent microplastic types found. • Microplastic pollution seems to be related to the critical state of conservation of the reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• So-called biodegradable plastics and greenwashing are issues of environmental concern. • Cases of false claims of biodegradability in plastic products are becoming frequent. • Appropriate labeling rules for biodegradable products should be implemented. Plastic pollution is a global environmental concern and several approaches have been implemented seeking to reduce and control releases of plastic waste, especially in marine environments. Recently, disclosure of data on occurrence of single-use plastic straws among the litter collected in beach cleaning campaigns unleashed a worldwide movement that resulted on banning of these items in several countries. The market then quickly began to offer sustainable solutions as the professed biodegradable plastic straws. However, cases of greenwashing added to current limitations related to the technical standards used to attest biodegradability of commercial plastic products may lead these measures to be largely ineffective. Herein, a case study assessing the composition of plastic straws marketed in Brazil and United States under false claims of biodegradability was used as background for discussion of this neglected issue, which goes far beyond plastics straws. Thus, although some local regulations have already banned single-use plastic products, additional actions in regional and global scales should be implemented, especially concerning proper labeling of the alleged biodegradable products. Therefore, from a multi-dimensional perspective and considering the resistance of the powerful plastic industry, multiple management strategies focused on educating people – in the matters of deciding purchases based on correct labeling and properly discarding the waste –, are possibly our best chance to drive a positive global environmental change. Additionally, we also suggest the inclusion of this relevant subject among the tasks proposed by the Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite structures were developed by means of post-synthesis modification and direct synthesis and the materials were applied as pyrolysis catalysts of different sources of plastic waste. The plastic wastes were purchased from a cooperative of selective collection, classified as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, which were used in plastic mixtures with quantities consistent with the Brazilian Association of the Plastic Industry (ABIPLAST) in order to simulate urban plastic waste in Brazil. Previously, these plastic waste mixtures were extruded with 10% m/m of catalyst and thermogravimetric analysis was performed. It was possible to observe the decrease in degradation temperatures, as well as additional degradation steps in catalytic pyrolysis compared to thermal pyrolysis. The synthesized mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite was the catalyst with higher performance in the pyrolysis of plastic waste mixtures due to the higher proportion of strong to weak acid sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual production of plastics has doubled over the past 15 years and, consequently, a large amount of plastic has accumulated in the environment generating ecological problems. In this study, a Paenibacillus sp. isolate was obtained from a landfill from Brazil and it presented the alkane hydroxylase gene (alkB). Weight loss of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was measured and a significant difference in final weight compared to initial weight was assessed. Some chemical characteristics, such as bond scissions and formation of new functional groups [carboxylic acids (3300–2500 cm−1), esters (1210–1163 cm−1), and ethers (1075–1020 cm−1)], were detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Bacterial colonization on the plastic surface and physical changes, as formation of cracks and pits, was visualized by scanning electron microscopy. This isolate was susceptible to all the antimicrobials tested. Therefore, this isolate possesses great potential to degrade polyethylene and become an option for LDPE bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics are abundant artificial substrates in aquatic systems that host a wide variety of organisms (the plastisphere), including potential pathogens and invasive species. Plastisphere communities have many complex, but not well-understood ecological interactions. It is pivotal to investigate how these communities are influenced by the natural fluctuations in aquatic ecosystems, especially in transitional environments such as estuaries. Further study is needed in subtropical regions in the Southern Hemisphere, where plastic pollution is ever increasing. Here we applied DNA-metabarcoding (16S, 18S and ITS-2) as well Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to assess the diversity of the plastisphere in the Patos Lagoon estuary (PLE), South Brazil. Through a one-year in situ colonization experiment, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plates were placed in shallow waters, and sampled after 30 and 90 days within each season. Over 50 taxa including bacteria, fungi and other eukaryotes were found through DNA analysis. Overall, the polymer type did not influence the plastisphere community composition. However, seasonality significantly affected community composition for bacteria, fungi and general eukaryotes. Among the microbiota, we found Acinetobacter sp., Bacillus sp., and Wallemia mellicola that are putative pathogens of aquatic organisms, such as algae, shrimp and fish, including commercial species. In addition, we identified organisms within genera that can potentially degrade hydrocarbons (e.g. Pseudomonas and Cladosporium spp). This study is the first to assess the full diversity and variation of the plastisphere on different polymers within a subtropical Southern Hemisphere estuary, significantly expanding knowledge on plastic pollution and the plastisphere in estuarine regions. [Display omitted] • Season had a stronger influence in shaping the plastisphere compared to polymer and incubation time. • We identified 14 bacterial and 6 fungal phyla, as well as 39 groups of eukaryotes. • We found putative plastic biodegraders and pathogens within the plastisphere in the PLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has intensified the demand for better social and environmental conservation efforts, motivating organisations to become more engaged in the development of sustainable technologies. This study analyses the innovation process in the production of green plastic, a process which replaces a non-renewable resource (naphtha) for a renewable one (ethanol from sugarcane), through the lens of sustainable supply-chain management (SSCM). An in-depth case study was conducted with a Brazilian petrochemical company, including interviews with agents of the supply chain. The results show that collaborations between the focal organisation and other agents of the supply chain are important for product development. The focal organisation has created many industry-wide initiatives, such as certification programmes and seal of quality/approval, to support the production of green plastic and reduce the social and environmental impact along the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for plastics, for packaging and consumption, is a current environmental issue. Although there are many scientific developments concerning material science, knowledge about the public's perception is low, which can delay society's efforts to face this challenge. This study aimed to understand if Brazilians who practice different sustainable actions perceive differently biodegradable, recycled, and common plastics and have different purchase intentions for each specific type of packaging. A total of 1080 Brazilian adults were first classified by their day-to-day attitudes regarding sustainability efforts. Then, their purchase intention and perception about different plastics were assessed. Regardless of sustainability practices, people associate common plastic bags with negative attributes and biodegradable plastic bags with positive attributes. This shows that there is a well-established concept about these types of bags, even if there are some misconceptions (e.g. recyclable) or controversies (e.g. non-polluting). On the other hand, results showed that consumers who adopted more sustainable practices were 3.5 times more willing to pay for biodegradable packages, even though no differences were observed in the accepted price for biodegradable bags between consumer's groups. Finally, the purchase intention comparisons for products packaged in recycled and biodegradable plastics showed the consumers were more interested in those biodegradable plastics and the purchase intention was lower for perishable food (e.g. products that can have higher safety risks). The results are important for understanding environmental policy management in Brazil, highlighting the importance to improve the population's knowledge about different types of plastic, leading to more conscious choices. • Aimed to understand if Brazilians with different sustainable practices. • Importance to improve population's knowledge about different type of plastics. • Understand the management of environmental policy in Brazil. • Consumers are more interested in purchasing products in biodegradable plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been numerous discussions about plastic drinking straws and their impacts on the natural environment, reflecting on public policies and companies' operation, while alternatives to substituting plastic-based products have been proposed. However, making decisions without measuring trade-off conditions between the different scenarios may lead to higher impacts elsewhere on the life cycle or even in other areas of protection. To deepen this discussion, this paper aimed to quantify the potential environmental impacts of different drinking straws as well as find possible break-even situations. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to assess six different drinking straws (plastic, stainless steel, glass, paper, bamboo and jute) from cradle-to-grave. A hybrid life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) method was applied following the characterization models recommended by ILCD. Sensitivity analyses included reuse rate, washing condition, the ancillary kits usage, End-of-Life (EoL) strategies and the inclusion of an indicator to account for the marine litter impacts from Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). Results showed that for baseline scenarios, plastic drinking straws have a better environmental performance if compared to reusable straws and has a favourable performance in 10 of 11 categories if compared to paper drinking straws. Water and detergent consumptions during the use phase and the manufacturing of additional elements (bag, brush) are the main drivers for this potentially higher environmental impact. Sensitivity analyses, however, showed that certain consumption patterns may lead to a break-even situation, especially when plastic drinking straws are disposed incorrectly into the natural ecosystem. Accounting for the impacts of marine litter may lead to a change in the decision-making depending on the significance (weight) attributed to the marine litter indicator. These outcomes reinforce the importance of understanding trade-offs during the entire life cycle of products and demonstrate that policies directed to product substitution should be carefully grounded. Recommendations on reusable straws rely on simplifying their "kits", expanding reuse rates and improving the washing process. For single use straws, waste collection and correct disposal are mandatory. The lack of a LCIA methodology to account for the environmental impact of mismanaged plastic waste on ecosystems, especially in the marine compartment represents an important issue to be further developed, from which, more realistic scenarios could be outlined for any product. • The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of five different drinking straws was performed. • Plastic drinking straw has better environmental profile in baseline scenario. • Washing process at use phase is one of the main drivers of reusable straws. • Break-even point is possible through sensitive aspects of baseline scenario. • When mismanage plastic flow is considered decision making is affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a baseline assessment of the density and types of microplastics in the western equatorial Atlantic. The highest microplastics density was found in coastal stations near urbanized sites, large tropical estuaries, and fishing grounds. With regard to microplastics composition, most of the identified particles were fibers/filaments, styrofoam, hard and soft plastic, paint, and glass/acrylic. Fibers/filaments were the most abundant (~80%) and occurred at all stations, in both types of mesh nets. Hard plastic particles were frequent (78%) only in the 120 μm mesh net. The mean density recorded in the 120 μm mesh net was about seven times greater than that in the 300 μm mesh net, suggesting that the larger mesh size net did not lead to an accurate description of microplastics density in the pelagic environment or the degree of risk to which organisms are exposed. Image 1 • Abundance and types of microplastics in the western equatorial Atlantic. • Density was significantly higher in the 120 μm mesh net than in the 300 μm. • Most of the identified particles consisted of fibers/filaments, Styrofoam, hard and soft plastic, paint, and glass/acrylic. • Fibers/filaments were the most abundant and occurred at all stations. • Hard plastic particles were frequent only in the 120 μm mesh net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about plastic pollution and global public policies have encouraged consumers to acquire environmentally friendly products. Thus, products made of biodegradable plastics have been preferred by the public, despite their costs. However, greenwashing practices, promising more environmental benefits than the products actually offer, has become frequent. Nevertheless, no studies assessing the occurrence of greenwashing in commercial plastic products sold in large world economies have been performed. The present study aimed to experimentally evaluate alterations in structure and chemical composition of selected plastic products marketed in Canada, USA and Brazil. The aging experiments carried out by seawater immersion for 180 days showed no evidence of degradation in 4 out of the 6 studied samples, despite product claims of biodegradability or 100% degradability status. This finding denotes unequivocal greenwashing practices, even including bags made of polyethylene, an ordinary non-biodegradable polymer. Thus, the inadequate adoption of green marketing is deceiving to consumers and may lead to improper disposal of these materials. These practices are highly counterproductive in view of the global public policies recently adopted to control plastic pollution. Therefore, considering the technologies currently available for identification of polymers, a strict control should be exercised over products that claim biodegradable status., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)