Diez-Pérez, DianaArenas, InésMaidana, EreniaLópez-Rosales, AdriánAndrade-Garda, José ManuelMuniategui, Soledad2025-05-052025-05-052023-06-02DIEZ-PÉREZ, Diana Beatriz, et al. Microplastics in surface water of the Bay of Asunción, Paraguay. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2023, vol. 192, p. 1150751879-3363http://hdl.handle.net/2183/41904[Abstract] This study identified and quantified microplastics in the Bay of Asunción, Paraguay, and its main tributaries. Surface water samples were sieved in duplicate at six locations using stainless-steel sieves (0.3–4.75 mm range), digested employing the Fenton's reaction (Fe-catalysed H2O2 digestion), and floated using NaCl and NaI. Particles were inspected using a microscope and characterized by IR spectrometry. Microplastics were found in all samples; more abundant (p < 0.05) in water from the bay (13.2 ± 13.4 items·m−3) than from the tributaries (1.0 ± 0.5 items·m−3). Most microplastics were common polymers and their abundance was in the order polypropylene > high-density polyethylene > low-density polyethylene, transparent and white. The results were similar to other regional studies and suggested that their main source was single-use packaging, disposed inadequately due to poor garbage collection.engAtribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Españahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/MicroplasticsSurface wáterParaguayIR spectrometryMicroreflectancejournal articleopen access