Contamination of Boa Viagem Beach (Pernambuco State, Brazil) by marine litter: relationship with its usage

Abstract

The study aimed to survey the marine litter present on Boa Viagem beach (Recife, Pernambuco State), in association with the use of the beach. Two areas with different characteristics were used. Three transects (10 x 15 m each) in each area were delimited, and sampling took place during two months, August and October (three Sundays each month). The beach users present within transect were counted in two different hours and all residues (> 2 cm) were collected and classified in manufacturing and food groups. Manufactured items were subdivided into categories according to material. The studied areas, although relatively close, were very different with respect to almost all parameters studied. In the Area 2 the number of beach users was 100% higher than in Area 1, and the total quantity of marine debris was 12 times more. The percentages were very similar between manufactured (~58%) and foods (42%) groups. The prevalence of plastics followed a pattern already observed in other surveyed areas. Among the identifiable plastic items collected, the most frequent were cups, straws, spoons and forks. There was no significant variation in the quantity and type of marine debris produced between months; August to October the increase was approximately 20%.