Microplastic distribution in the marine and freshwater ecosystems of Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica

A uniform distribution of microplastics (MPs) around Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica, suggests that local human activities are not significant sources of MP pollution. The study, which analyzed 288 samples from marine and freshwater ecosystems, identified 178 MPs, with higher abundance and larger sizes found in the marine environment. While ocean currents likely contribute to marine MP distribution, sources in the freshwater ecosystem remain uncertain but may stem from atmospheric deposition, air-sea exchange, or long-range transport. These findings highlight Cocos Island's vulnerability to plastic pollution due to its insular nature and underscore the need for global conservation efforts to address MPs as a planetary boundary threat.

Astorga, A., Ulate, K., Golfin-Duarte, G., Madrigal-Ramirez, D., Murillo-Corrales, M., García-Rojas, A., Arias-Zumbado, F., Solís-Adolio, D., & Chacón, I. (2025). Microplastic distribution in the marine and freshwater ecosystems of Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1474(1), 12019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1474/1/012019