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First Report of Plastic and Artificial Cellulose Ingestion by Freshwater Turtles in the Amazon

Authors:
Ana Laura Pereira Santos at Federal University of Para
Ana Laura Pereira Santos
Tamires Oliveira at Federal University of Para
Tamires Oliveira
Laura Sforzi at University of Florence
Laura Sforzi
Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti at Federal University of Para
Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti
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Abstract and Figures

Plastic and other synthetic polymers pose a significant threat to wildlife, particularly aquatic organisms. Numerous reports have documented instances of animals, including fish, cetaceans, birds, and turtles, ingesting plastic. While the Chelonian group has received considerable attention in relation to plastic pollution, most studies have primarily focused on marine turtles. Despite the higher richness, only five species of freshwater turtles have been reported to consume plastic. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first report of plastic and artificial cellulose ingestion by freshwater turtles in the Amazon region. Our findings indicate that 20% of Podocnemis unifilis and 60% of Kinosternon scorpioides had ingested artificial polymers. All polymers ingested by P. unifilis were categorized as microparticles, while 37.5% of the fragments ingested by K. scorpioides were mesoparticles. The identified meso- and microparticles included polysaccharide gum, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, latex, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Additionally, artificial cellulose particles were the most frequently detected particles. These polymers likely originated from sources such as plastic bags, fishing gear, and the washing of textiles, highlighting potential inadequacies in the region's sewage disposal system. These findings provide new evidence of the potential threat posed by artificial polymers to freshwater turtles in the Amazon region despite the favorable conservation status of the collection locations. Consequently, further studies are required to identify the presence and impact of artificial polymers on aquatic habitats and organisms.
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Vol.: (0123456789)
Water Air Soil Pollut (2025) 236:232
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-07877-4
First Report ofPlastic andArtificial Cellulose Ingestion
byFreshwater Turtles intheAmazon
AnaLauraPereiraSantos · TamiresdeAlmeidaPereiradeOliveira · LauraSforzi ·
JuarezCarlosBritoPezzuti · PriscilaSaikoskiMiorando · LuaneGabrielaBotelhoRebelo ·
AndréaMagalhãesBezerra · TaniaMartellini · DavidChelazzi · AlessandraCincinelli ·
TommasoGiarrizzo · MarceloÂndrade
Received: 11 July 2024 / Accepted: 8 March 2025 / Published online: 14 March 2025
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025
richness, only five species of freshwater turtles have
been reported to consume plastic. To the best of our
knowledge, this study presents the first report of plas-
tic and artificial cellulose ingestion by freshwater
turtles in the Amazon region. Our findings indicate
that 20% of Podocnemis unifilis and 60% of Kinoster-
non scorpioides had ingested artificial polymers. All
polymers ingested by P. unifilis were categorized as
microparticles, while 37.5% of the fragments ingested
by K. scorpioides were mesoparticles. The identi-
fied meso- and microparticles included polysaccha-
ride gum, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate,
Abstract Plastic and other synthetic polymers pose
a significant threat to wildlife, particularly aquatic
organisms. Numerous reports have documented
instances of animals, including fish, cetaceans, birds,
and turtles, ingesting plastic. While the Chelonian
group has received considerable attention in rela-
tion to plastic pollution, most studies have primar-
ily focused on marine turtles. Despite the higher
Supplementary Information The online version
contains supplementary material available at https:// doi.
org/ 10. 1007/ s11270- 025- 07877-4.
A.L.P.Santos(*)· T.d.A.P.d.Oliveira· T.Giarrizzo·
M.Ândrade
Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática E Pesca da Amazônia,
Universidade Federal doPará, Avenida Perimetral,
Montese, Belém, Pará2651, Brazil
e-mail: ana-lauraps@hotmail.com
T. d. A. P. d. Oliveira
e-mail: tamiresapdeoliveira@gmail.com
T. Giarrizzo
e-mail: tgiarrizzo@gmail.com
M. Ândrade
e-mail: andrademarcosta@gmail.com
L.Sforzi· T.Martellini· D.Chelazzi· A.Cincinelli
Department ofChemistry “Ugo Schiff” andCSGI,
University ofFlorence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, Sesto
Fiorentino, 50019Florence, Italy
e-mail: laura.sforzi@stud.unifi.it
T. Martellini
e-mail: tania.martellini@unifi.it
D. Chelazzi
e-mail: david.chelazzi@unifi.it
A. Cincinelli
e-mail: acincinelli@unifi.it
J.C.B.Pezzuti
Núcleo de Altos Estudos Amazônicos, Universidade
Federal Do Pará, Av. Perimetral, 1 - Guamá, Belém, Pará,
Brazil
e-mail: juarez.pezzuti@gmail.com
P.S.Miorando
Universidade Do Oeste Do Pará, UnidadeTapajós)
BairroSalé, Rua Vera Paz, S/N, Santarém, Pará, Brazil
e-mail: pri.miorando@gmail.com
L.G.B.Rebelo
Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal Do
Pará, Av. Perimetral, 2-224 - Guamá, Belém, Pará, Brazil
e-mail: luanebotelho05@gmail.com
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
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