Validation of sediment granulometry as a key factor in microplastic accumulation: Comparative analysis between the Tena and Pano rivers, Ecuadorian Amazon
Synopsis
Microplastic (MPs) abundances are often used as pollution indicators, yet neglecting sedimentary processes may bias their estimation. This study examines the relationship between sediment granulometry and MPs accumulation in two rivers of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Six zones were selected in the Tena River and twelve in the Pano River using the Van Zuidam slope classification (<8°). After a single strong rainfall, 30 sediment samples were collected in the Tena and 60 in the Pano. MPs were quantified from 2.5 g of sediment per sample, while granulometry was determined by sieving 100 g into seven fractions (>2 mm to <63 μm). In total, 564 MPs were recorded in the Tena and 567 in the Pano river. A significant positive correlation was found between MPs and muds content in both rivers (Tena: r = 0.46, p = 0.009; Pano: r = 0.40, p = 0.00244). Results demonstrate that granulometry strongly influences MPs accumulation and must be reported to avoid biased estimates.
Published
April 3, 2026
Categories
Copyright (c) 2026 Zulay Marina Niño Ruiz, Laura Inés Salazar Cotugno (Coordinador de obra); Patricia Yissel Dávalos Cerrón, Azucena Chanatasig, Felipe Cerrera, Andrea Carolina Palacios Rosado, Mateo Patricio Sánchez Sanaguano, Liliana Paulina Lalaleo Córdova, William Calero Cáceres, Santiago Casado, Joshua Pazmiño, Jaime Martí-Herrero, Rocio Cecibel Jiménez Paute, Kevin Campaña, Elena Coyago-Cruz, Andrea Hidalgo-Dávila, Lizbeth Alpusig-Guanoluisa, Belén Apolo, Felipe Rivera-Rueda, Yerovi Sánchez-Arias, Karen Marcella García, Rubianith Suárez, Harol Smith Daza, Geovanna Tafurt, Duverney de Jesús Chaverra, Edita Valle, Evelyn Oña, Mishel Calero, Jonathan Liria, Andrés Sebastian Calderón Velasco, Roque Rivas-Párraga, Inti Llumiquinga, Ana Bravo, Julio Rea, Máximo Moreira, Oscar Vivanco, Nicole Jara, Lilibeth Carrión, Stefanía Cevallos, Paulo Herrera, Esteban Patricio Romero Valladares, Ana Paula Rosero-Jácome, Eliza Jara-Negrete, Gabriel Picón Nava, Nelly Paredes, Wilfredo Ramiro Franco, Wilmer Shiguango, Willin Álvarez, Juan Ponce, Jessica Sánchez, Christian Israel Andrade Romero, Alexandra Vargas, David Sanchez, Negover Briñez, Byron García, Dennis Tomalá, Mery Ramirez, Jenny Rodríguez, Paúl Tufiño Mateus, Enrique Laaz, Willan Revelo, Cecilia Puertas, Juan Andrés Guadamud, Karina Olalla-Tacuri , Darwin Omar Yánez Avalos, Diana Callejas, Sara Álvarez, John Mauricio Castillo Torres, Edith Pamela Tapia Pruna, Daniela Endara, Carolina Castro, Silvia Alejandra Llerena Gordillo, Kevin Stwart Tulcanaza Ruiz, Noroska G.S. Mogollón, Melany Ochoa, María Cristina Peñuela, Jimmy Yumbo, Enith Yánez, Carolina Ñacato, Samira Lluno, Henry Conteron, Pedro Cadena, Corina Campos, Oswaldo Guzman, Micaela Campos, Cindy Vera, Dayana Vera, Christian Coral, Bruce Tumbaco, María Soledad Solorzano, Bryan Valencia, José Sebastián Araujo Soria, Sandra Torres, Enzo Loor, Oscar Ayala, Darwin Rosero, Amparo Condor, Luis Cáceres, Miguel Flores, Elena Ulcuango, Nicole Pilco, David Galarza, Mishell Cabrera, Julieth Chancay, Paola Soto, David Portillo, Diana Cisneros, José Aguirre-Déleg, Pablo Maita-Zambrano, Aimee Delgado-Cruz, Myrian Larco, María Soledad Salazar, María Susana Grijalva, Viviana Stefanía Cárdenas Loor, Mónica Dazzini Langdon, Sheila Tobar Vallejo, Vinicio Velásquez Zambrano, Juan Carlos Soria Aguas (Autor de capítulo)
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Validation of sediment granulometry as a key factor in microplastic accumulation: Comparative analysis between the Tena and Pano rivers, Ecuadorian Amazon. (2026). In III International Congress of Biotechnology and Neotropical Ecosystems. Editorial Unión Científica. https://doi.org/10.63804/CIBEN.25.cter.e7
