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Tourism-associated short-term variability of large microplastics on a tropical sandy beach in the Southern Gulf of Mexico.

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Title: Tourism-associated short-term variability of large microplastics on a tropical sandy beach in the Southern Gulf of Mexico.
Authors: Vallejo Gomez M; División de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Centro, Tabasco, México., Cuevas Díaz MDC; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, México., Arienzo M; Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Terra, Dell'Ambiente E Delle Risorse, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy. michele.arienzo@unina.it., Cucolo C; Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy., Ferrara L; Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy., Trifuoggi M; Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy., Sosa Olivier JA; División de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Centro, Tabasco, México., Laines Canepa JR; División de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Centro, Tabasco, México. jose.laines@ujat.mx.
Source: Environmental monitoring and assessment [Environ Monit Assess] 2026 Jul 21; Vol. 198 (8). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 21.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8508350 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-2959 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01676369 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Monit Assess Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 1998- : Dordrecht : Springer
Original Publication: Dordrecht, Holland ; Boston : D. Reidel Pub. Co., c1981-
MeSH Terms: Microplastics*/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical*/analysis , Environmental Monitoring* , Bathing Beaches* , Tourism*, Gulf of America
Abstract: Tourism-associated coastal activities represent an important source of plastic-derived debris in tropical environments; however, baseline information on large microplastics (> 0.84 mm) remains limited in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. This study evaluated short-term variability in the composition and abundance of confirmed large microplastics in beach sediments from Playa Azul, Centla, Tabasco, comparing two contrasting visitation periods. Two 1-week monitoring campaigns representing low- and high-visitation conditions were conducted to assess changes in daily beach debris generation and large-microplastic characteristics. Results showed a marked increase in total beach debris during the high-visitation period, reaching values approximately 25-fold higher than those recorded during the low-visitation period. In contrast, confirmed large-microplastic abundance showed only limited short-term variation, while morphological composition differed between campaigns. Foams and fragments predominated during the low-visitation period, whereas films and fibres increased during the high-visitation period. Carbonaceous particles were recorded separately as non-plastic anthropogenic residues because their polymeric origin was not confirmed by FTIR. Polymer characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed high spectral matches for high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) in foams (95-98%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in fragments (90-95%), and polyethylene (PE) in fibres (90-92%). The Microplastic Pollution Index (MPPI) was interpreted as a descriptive screening indicator rather than as a definitive long-term pollution classification. Overall, the findings provide a short-term baseline indicating that visitor pressure was clearly associated with increased total beach debris, whereas large-microplastic abundance and morphology require broader temporal and spatial replication before robust long-term or causal conclusions can be drawn.
(© 2026. The Author(s).)
Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
References: Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Apr 15;93(1-2):202-9. (PMID: 25682567)
Anal Bioanal Chem. 2018 Aug;410(21):5131-5141. (PMID: 29978249)
Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Sep;170:112685. (PMID: 34225194)
Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Feb;163:111969. (PMID: 33515857)
Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 23;10(1):20326. (PMID: 33230125)
Environ Pollut. 2020 Dec;267:115463. (PMID: 32866877)
Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2019 Aug 28;93:. (PMID: 31462628)
Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Sep;194(Pt A):115304. (PMID: 37481896)
Science. 2015 Feb 13;347(6223):768-71. (PMID: 25678662)
Mar Pollut Bull. 2011 Aug;62(8):1596-605. (PMID: 21742351)
Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Nov 1;45(21):9175-9. (PMID: 21894925)
Environ Pollut. 2022 Dec 1;314:120231. (PMID: 36152712)
Int J Environ Res. 2023;17(1):20. (PMID: 36711426)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Beach litter; Coastal monitoring; FTIR identification; Polymer composition; Sediment pollution; Visitor pressure
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Microplastics)
0 (Water Pollutants, Chemical)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260720 Date Completed: 20260721 Latest Revision: 20260922
Update Code: 20260922
PubMed Central ID: PMC13385079
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-026-15678-3
PMID: 42477160
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Tourism-associated short-term variability of large microplastics on a tropical sandy beach in the Southern Gulf of Mexico.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Vallejo+Gomez+M%22">Vallejo Gomez M</searchLink>; División de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Centro, Tabasco, México.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Cuevas+Díaz+MDC%22">Cuevas Díaz MDC</searchLink>; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, México.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Arienzo+M%22">Arienzo M</searchLink>; Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Terra, Dell'Ambiente E Delle Risorse, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy. michele.arienzo@unina.it.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Cucolo+C%22">Cucolo C</searchLink>; Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ferrara+L%22">Ferrara L</searchLink>; Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Trifuoggi+M%22">Trifuoggi M</searchLink>; Dipartimento Di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Di Monte Sant'Angelo, Via Cintia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Sosa+Olivier+JA%22">Sosa Olivier JA</searchLink>; División de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Centro, Tabasco, México.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Laines+Canepa+JR%22">Laines Canepa JR</searchLink>; División de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Centro, Tabasco, México. jose.laines@ujat.mx.
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  Data: Tourism-associated coastal activities represent an important source of plastic-derived debris in tropical environments; however, baseline information on large microplastics (> 0.84 mm) remains limited in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. This study evaluated short-term variability in the composition and abundance of confirmed large microplastics in beach sediments from Playa Azul, Centla, Tabasco, comparing two contrasting visitation periods. Two 1-week monitoring campaigns representing low- and high-visitation conditions were conducted to assess changes in daily beach debris generation and large-microplastic characteristics. Results showed a marked increase in total beach debris during the high-visitation period, reaching values approximately 25-fold higher than those recorded during the low-visitation period. In contrast, confirmed large-microplastic abundance showed only limited short-term variation, while morphological composition differed between campaigns. Foams and fragments predominated during the low-visitation period, whereas films and fibres increased during the high-visitation period. Carbonaceous particles were recorded separately as non-plastic anthropogenic residues because their polymeric origin was not confirmed by FTIR. Polymer characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed high spectral matches for high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) in foams (95-98%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in fragments (90-95%), and polyethylene (PE) in fibres (90-92%). The Microplastic Pollution Index (MPPI) was interpreted as a descriptive screening indicator rather than as a definitive long-term pollution classification. Overall, the findings provide a short-term baseline indicating that visitor pressure was clearly associated with increased total beach debris, whereas large-microplastic abundance and morphology require broader temporal and spatial replication before robust long-term or causal conclusions can be drawn.<br /> (© 2026. The Author(s).)
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  Data: Declarations. Ethical approval: All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
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  Data: Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Apr 15;93(1-2):202-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2225682567%22">25682567)</searchLink><br />Anal Bioanal Chem. 2018 Aug;410(21):5131-5141. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2229978249%22">29978249)</searchLink><br />Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Sep;170:112685. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2234225194%22">34225194)</searchLink><br />Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Feb;163:111969. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2233515857%22">33515857)</searchLink><br />Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 23;10(1):20326. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2233230125%22">33230125)</searchLink><br />Environ Pollut. 2020 Dec;267:115463. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2232866877%22">32866877)</searchLink><br />Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2019 Aug 28;93:. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2231462628%22">31462628)</searchLink><br />Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Sep;194(Pt A):115304. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237481896%22">37481896)</searchLink><br />Science. 2015 Feb 13;347(6223):768-71. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2225678662%22">25678662)</searchLink><br />Mar Pollut Bull. 2011 Aug;62(8):1596-605. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2221742351%22">21742351)</searchLink><br />Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Nov 1;45(21):9175-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2221894925%22">21894925)</searchLink><br />Environ Pollut. 2022 Dec 1;314:120231. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2236152712%22">36152712)</searchLink><br />Int J Environ Res. 2023;17(1):20. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2236711426%22">36711426)</searchLink>
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