Measurement of micro plastic particles in the Salvadoran coasts, Los Cóbanos Beach (use of Manta Trawl)

Abstract

Societies have an increasing corcern and awareness about the levels of pollution and solid waste management (which is provided from an irresponsible consumism); this generates a complex impact on the ecosystem and the genetic modifcation of organisms. Based on the ignorance in the levels of polymers´ contamination on the shores of El Salvador, it was decided to design a research project. The following paper contains the results of applied research that responds to the problem: Does micro-particles of plastic exist in Los Cobanos located in El Salvador´s coast? (in which quantity). To develop this work a device of recollection called “Manta Trawl” was built, which has been used by researchers in Germany and England; the floating artefact of drag -designed entirely under our supervision by a Salvadorean company- contains a 40-micron flter. However, a sampling plan for the measurements was designed, with two recollections. The evidence was analyzed in the nanotechnology laboratory of the Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Francisco Gavidia University; the results obtained indicate a considerable amount of plastic ranging from 29,394 and 39, 697 particles per square kilometer.

AKADEMOS, Año 11, Vol. 1, No 28, Enero-Junio 2017: 78-101