title: Three-dimensional distribution of plastic pellets in sandy beaches: shifting paradigms.
abstract: Plastic pellets are worldwide contaminants that accumulate in the ocean, especially in sandy beaches, where their historic standing-stock quantification relies on surface sediment samples. We demonstrated these particles present a three-dimensional instead of a simple along-across shore distribution, being found as deep as 2.0 m, with surface layers accounting for <10% of the total abundance in the sediment column. This gradient seemed to be more related to oceanographic rather than anthropic processes, suggesting a general pattern whose applicability to microplastics and sedimentary environments as a whole should be investigated. This poses criticism in the exactness of standing-stock records and demands urgent discussion of sampling protocols.
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turra
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aruanã B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodolfo Jasão S
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mahiques
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balthazar-Silva
authors.affiliation: Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiana T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Moreira