Anthropogenic debris on beaches in the SE Pacific (Chile): Results from a national survey supported by volunteers

Bravo M.; Gallardo, MD; Luna?Jorquera, G.; Núñez P.; Vásquez N.; Thiel M.

Abstract

Anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) is an ubiquitous problem, which has motivated public participation in activities such as beach surveys and clean-up campaigns. While it is known that beaches in the SE Pacific are also affected by this problem, the quantities and types of AMD remain largely unknown. In the context of an outreach project, volunteers (~1500 high-school students) participated in a nation-wide survey of AMD on 43 beaches distributed randomly along the entire Chilean coast (18°S to 53°S). The mean density of AMD was 1.8 items m-2 and the major types were plastics, cigarette butts and glass. Densities in central Chile were lower than in northern and southern Chile, which could be due to different attitudes of beach users or to intense beach cleaning in central regions. We suggest that public participation in surveys and cleaning activities will raise awareness and thereby contribute to an improvement of the situation. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Más información

Título según WOS: Anthropogenic debris on beaches in the SE Pacific (Chile): Results from a national survey supported by volunteers
Título según SCOPUS: Anthropogenic debris on beaches in the SE Pacific (Chile): Results from a national survey supported by volunteers
Título de la Revista: MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volumen: 58
Número: 11
Editorial: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 1718
Página final: 1726
Idioma: English
URL: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0025326X09002707
DOI:

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.06.017

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS