Abstract

OPORTO TAPIA, Valeria; ESCOBAR, Iván; LUJAN, Marcos  and  D’ABZAC, Paul. Evaluation of air pollution by suspended microplastics in the La Maica area (Cochabamba, Bolivia). RevActaNova. [online]. 2021, vol.10, n.2, pp.190-221.  Epub Nov 31, 2021. ISSN 1683-0789.

Microplastics (MPs) can be found suspended in the air, thus forming part of particulate matter and causing health problems for people, animals and environmental pollution worldwide. Cochabamba is one of the cities most affected by air pollution in Latin America and as there are no studies regarding MPs in the air, it is necessary to start studies to evaluate the presence of MPs suspended in the air, as the main objective of this study. For this, in the South - La Maica and a control point in the North - Tupuraya as sampling points were selected, adapting an adequate protocol for the testing, analysis and counting of MPs. Subsequently, the spatial variation of microplastics was analyzed, observing the levels of contamination found at the sampling points, as well as comparing their presence in relation to particulate matter (PM10). Finally, it was determined that the concentrations of MPs suspended in the air show a higher concentration of 4,691 MPs/m3 in the North zone - Tupuraya, compared to the concentrations of MPs 3,027 MPs/m3 and 3,876 MPs/m3 in the South zone - La Maica, but lower concentrations of PM10.

Keywords : Plastics; Microplastics; Particulate Matter; Air Pollution; La Maica; Tupuraya.

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