Diagnosis of the Presence of Plastic Pellets on Beaches in the Bay of All Saints/Bahia

Coastal and marine environments are being impacted by the significant presence of marine debris, particularly plastics. Plastic pellets (small beads/spherules of polymer resins produced from chemical processing for the base plastic industry) serve as an example of materials or waste that may be inadvertently released into the environment during manufacturing, transportation, and storage processes. This study aimed to develop a preliminary assessment of the presence and dispersion of plastic pellets on beaches in the Bay of All Saints (BAS). Eight beaches within the BAS were selected, with six located within the bay and two facing the Atlantic Ocean. These beaches were chosen because many are close to sources of pellet emissions, such as ports and plastic-producing industries, as well as oil and petrochemical platforms. The research methods employed included bibliographic research, cartographic analysis, and fieldwork conducted during the winter of 2023. A total of 74 sampling points were established across the eight beaches in the BAS for sand collection. The results indicate the presence of pellets on seven of the eight studied beaches. Starting from ports and industries as the primary sources of emissions, a correlation was observed between the distance from these sources and the beaches, the occurrence of meteorological-oceanographic events (storm surges), spatial distribution, and general characteristics, with the highest concentration gradients observed at Praia do Farol da Barra, Praia da Costa, Barra Grande, Cabuçu, Praia do Sol, Itaparica, and São Tomé de Paripe. No pellets were found at Praia de São Francisco do Conde.