Occurrence and characterization of pellets: a study carried out in the State Park of Itinguçu, Arpoador beach, Peruíbe (SP) Laura Roberta Sarmento de Barros, Sueli Silva Souza, Álison Luis Cara, Milena Ramires, Walter Barrella

Abstract

Pellets, are granules, that serve as raw material for the production of plastic objects, by the transformation industry. When transported, they get lost and can reach the marine environment. Due to its great possibility of dispersion, it is possible to find pellets of varied colors and sizes on beaches around the world. Because they have adsorption capacity, they become an important study matrix on pollutants in the marine environment. This study aimed to identify the presence of pellets on a beach, located in the city of Peruíbe, State of São Paulo. The material was superficially searched for in the sand and collected using six 10-meter-wide transectos equidistant 2 meters from each other, extending from the beach face area at low tide to the first natural barrier. Although the site is a Conservation Unit, 221 pellets were found, in different colors and shapes, with emphasis on flat cylinders with semitransparent coloring. The deposition of these residues can be an indication of a critical factor for the environment, reflecting the need for monitoring, mitigation and management actions, aimed at minimizing the impacts caused by the dispersion of pellets in the natural environment.