As questões ambientais associadas aos plásticos são um tema cada vez mais presente na nossa sociedade. A fragmentação de partículas maiores e/ou a produção em pequenas dimensões (pellet) constituem os microplásticos. Estes levam a graves problemas ambientais, sociais e económicos. No entanto, por se tratar de um problema relativamente recente, existem poucos estudos sobre microplásticos em Portugal. Este é o primeiro trabalho realizado sobre a sua presença nas praias com âmbito nacional e com os arquipélagos incluídos. Foram recolhidas 10 amostras de cada uma das estações do ano entre 2020 e 2021 em sete praias (Azurára, Algés, Baleal, Vila Real de Santo António, Garrão, Santa Bárbara e Formosa), sendo analisadas no total 280 amostras. Os resultados revelaram que a praia de Algés e a praia do Baleal registaram os valores medianos mais elevados relativos à concentração de microplásticos por m2. Por outro lado, as praias de Santa Bárbara, Vila Real de Santo António e Garrão apresentaram as menores concentrações. As formas predominantes foram os fragmentos e a esferovite, estando associados à predominância de partículas brancas. O polietileno (PE) e poliestireno (PS) foram o tipo de polímeros mais encontrados, correspondendo às principais formas encontradas. Tal se verifica porque a esferovite apresenta uma composição química identificada como PS. Da mesma forma, os fragmentos tendem a ser identificados como PE, uma vez que são o resultado da fragmentação de partículas maiores, sendo esta composição química a mais produzida em termos de uso. Foram observadas diferenças sazonais nas concentrações de microplásticos em algumas praias, mas nenhum padrão nacional pôde ser estabelecido.

A primeira parte do trabalho consiste no relatório de estágio em farmácia comunitária, onde é realizado um resumo da aprendizagem adquirida durante a minha experiência na Farmácia São José enquanto estudante finalista. A experiência prática proporcionada pelo estágio permite adquirir noções que não são passíveis de ser aprendidas em salas de aula. Aprender a lidar com variadas situações, com casos reais, integrando os conhecimentos teóricos, é um exercício indispensável para a conclusão da formação de um farmacêutico. Sob a forma de uma análise SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), são discriminados os pontos fortes, fracos, oportunidades e ameaças do meu estágio. A segunda parte do trabalho compreende a monografia. Setenta anos de consumo, crescimento acelerado e uma diminuta gestão dos resíduos resultaram na conquista mundial dos microplásticos. Omnipresentes nos vários ecossistemas, a exposição dos seres vivos a estas partículas sintéticas é inevitável. Perante o novo cenário, várias questões têm sido colocadas sobre até que ponto estas partículas representam uma ameaça para a saúde ecológica, animal e humana. A acumulação de contaminantes, a presença de aditivos comprovadamente tóxicos e a particularidade de degradação até à nanoescala, arriscando transpor barreiras biológicas, são características que preocupam a comunidade científica. Não há dúvida que o Homem está exposto aos microplásticos e que por ingestão e inalação, estes podem entrar no organismo. Até onde estas partículas chegam e as implicações que podem ter na homeostase são tópicos ainda pouco esclarecidos. Recentemente, os microplásticos foram detetados na placenta humana. Considerando a suscetibilidade e imaturidade dos sistemas durante as fases de desenvolvimento fetal e infantil, os microplásticos e seus aditivos podem representar um risco acrescido, se houver exposição. O papel do farmacêutico passa por educar e sensibilizar a comunidade, para que esta adquirira hábitos que permitam uma menor exposição a estas partículas e aos seus constituintes tóxicos, na proteção da saúde humana.

Microplastics (MP) have been confirmed as emerging pollutants in the marine environment due to their ubiquity, bioavailability, persistence and potential toxicity. This study contributes with valuable data regarding the abundance and characteristics of the MP found in five species collected from Portugal. The mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (n 140) was collected from the Tagus estuary and Porto Covo coastal area, the peppery furrow shell Scrobicularia plana (n 140) and the polychaete Marphysa sanguinea (n 30) both from the Sado estuary, and Trachurus trachurus (n 82) and Scomber colias (n 82) fished off Figueira da Foz and Sesimbra. Soft tissues of all individuals were digested using a KOH (10%) solution, which allowed the extraction of MP. All studied species presented MP. In a total of 502 MP observed from all samples, 80% were fibers and 20% were fragments, with a size range of 73 μm–4,680 μm and blue was the most common color recorded (46%). The frequency of occurrence of MP was higher in T. trachurus (70%) and lowest in M. sanguinea (17%). MP abundance ranged from 0.30 ± 0.63 MP. ind−1 in S. plana, to 2.46 ± 4.12 MP. ind−1 in S. colias. No significant correlation was found between the individual biometric parameters and total MP, fibers and fragments ingested by each species. The FTIR analysis revealed that polyester and polyethylene were the most common polymers present. These results can be used as a reference for future studies regarding the use of indicator species for monitoring MP pollution in the coast of Portugal.

Plastics are widely used due to their excellent properties, inexpensiveness and versatility leading to an exponential consumption growth during the last decades. However, most plastic does not biodegrade in any meaningful sense; it can exist for hundreds of years. Only a small percentage of plastic waste is recycled, the rest being dumped in landfills, incinerated or simply not collected. Waste-water treatment plants can only minimize the problem by trapping plastic particles of larger size and some smaller ones remain within oxidation ponds or sewage sludge, but a large amount of microplastics still contaminate water streams and marine systems. Thus, it is clear that in order to tackle this potential ecological disaster, new strategies are necessary. This review aims at briefly introducing the microplastics threat and critically discusses emerging technologies, which are capable to efficiently clean aqueous media. Special focus is given to novel greener approaches based on lignocellulose flocculants and other biomaterials. In the final part of the present review, it was given a proof of concept, using a bioflocculant to remove micronized plastic from aqueous medium. The obtained results demonstrate the huge potential of these biopolymers to clean waters from the microplastics threat, using flocculants with appropriate structure.

Marine litter is a global problem which has been negatively a ecting the environment. Plastic materials are the most commonly found marine debris, with potential biological (not only for aquatic organisms but also for humans) as well as socio-economic impacts. Considering that it is an anthropogenic problem, society could play an important role to minimize it. Although a considerable amount of research has addressed the biological e ects of plastics (micro(nano)plastics) on biota, few studies have addressed how scientific information is being transmitted to the public and the potential role of citizen environmental education. The current paper discusses known e ects, researched topics and how scientific knowledge is currently being transmitted to the public.

Microplastics (MPs) are a contaminant which due to its ubiquitous nature is spread all over the world, reaching all the ecosystems and remote places. Since it’s a recent topic in the scientific community and its elimination is still a challenge, it’s important to access its concentration worldwide and monitoring. Some countries don’t have or have scarce data about it. Argentina, which comprises a long Atlantic coast and manages one of the major estuaries of South America is highly susceptible to release and transport MPs, but its concentration hasn’t been broadly studied yet. This thesis aims to contribute to filling the existent knowledge gap by presenting two case studies: one representing a sink for Potential Microplastics (PMPs), three beaches from Villa Gesell (Great Buenos Aires); and a source, a communitarian Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in the Great Buenos Aires area, to understand the transport of PMPs to the environment. PMPs were quantified and classified optically by its shape and colour. In Villa Gesell, PMPs were investigated in three different beaches with different anthropogenic loads, ranging from 46.0±34.8 (SD) to 86.2±66.1 PMPs.Kg-1 dry sand. No relation was observed between the amount of PMPs with anthropogenic load, wracklines, sand-size grain, and organic content. In WWTP, the concentration of PMPs in the influent was 12587±3073 PMPs.L-1 and it’s suggested that lagoon system and secondary settler could remove PMPs. However, still releases to the aquatic ecosystem an amount of 9.1x109 PMPs.day-1. Since the PMPs were not eliminated, they remained in the sludge, reaching an amount of 2.7x105±2.9x105 PMPs.kg-1 of dry sludge. The results from this thesis show the importance of assessing PMPs to understand the dimension of the contamination, bring awareness on this problem that can have serious consequences to the biota, and motivate the development of strategies to eliminate this contaminant

A simple and low-cost method of monitoring and collecting particulate matter detaching from (or interacting with) aquatic animals is described using a novel device based on an airlift pump principle applied to floating cages. The efficiency of the technique in particle collection is demonstrated using polyethylene microspheres interacting with a cyprinid fish (Carassius carassius) and a temporarily parasitic stage (glochidia) of an endangered freshwater mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) dropping from experimentally infested host fish (Salmo trutta). The technique enables the monitoring of temporal dynamics of particle detachment and their continuous collection both in the laboratory and in situ, allowing the experimental animals to be kept under natural water quality regimes and reducing the need for handling and transport. The technique can improve the representativeness of current experimental methods used in the fields of environmental parasitology, animal feeding ecology and microplastic pathway studies in aquatic environments. In particular, it makes it accessible to study the physiological compatibility of glochidia and their hosts, which is an essential but understudied autecological feature in mussel conservation programs worldwide. Field placement of the technique can also aid in outreach programs with pay-offs in the increase of scientific literacy of citizens concerning neglected issues such as the importance of fish hosts for the conservation of freshwater mussels.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging as a global health concern due to their ubiquity in the environment and, more recently, for their presence in the human body. Despite growing evidence that ingestion and inhalation are main exposure routes, the skin remains an often overlooked point of contact, especially relevant for occupational and daily exposures. Polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs), the most common and extensively used polymer globally, constitute a significant component of cosmetic and hygiene products. However, their cellular and molecular effects on skin remain poorly understood.This study investigated the effects of PE MPs on two cell types involved in skin integrity and immune defence: murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). In vitro experiments assessed cytotoxicity, internalisation of PE MPs, release of inflammatory mediators, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, and markers of cellular senescence, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, PE MPs were internalised and induced a marked reduction in metabolic activity at higher concentrations. In contrast, NHDFs displayed relative resilience in maintaining viability but showed subtle, consistent signs of stress. These included elevated MMP1 expression without compensatory TIMP1 upregulation, indicating a shift toward ECM degradation, as well as decreased levels of Lamin B1, tendencies toward γ-H2AX accumulation, and altered mitochondrial morphology. ER stress markers indicated potential adaptive responses. Overall, these results across different assays suggest that fibroblasts might enter a pre-senescence stage when exposed to PE MPs. Accordingly, the findings indicate that PE MPs serve as “silent stressors” in the skin: they impair macrophage activity and prime fibroblasts for senescence and dysfunction. Although acute exposure led to only minor changes, the results raise concerns that prolonged dermal exposure could disrupt skin homeostasis, accelerate ageing processes, and reduce regenerative ability. This work offers new mechanistic insights into how MPs affect the skin, highlighting the importance of considering skin as a key exposure route in human risk assessments. Future research should explore long-term, high-dose exposure effects, utilise advanced 3D skin models, and broaden molecular endpoint assessments to understand MPs' cumulative impact on skin health thoroughly.

The presence of plastic waste in water bodies has led to a growing concern due to the impact on human health. Among the most important plastic additive molecules is bisphenol-A (BPA). On the other hand, micro-pollutant removal processes that make use of agro-industrial waste have aroused the interest of researchers. This is because the accumulation of lignocellulosic materials is also an environmental problem. The objective of this work is to use corncob agro-industrial residue (CC) as an adsorbent in the removal of BPA in aqueous matrix. The adsorption studies were carried out in reaction media containing the ground vegetable fiber and BPA solution in concentrations of 10, 25 and 50 mg L-1, as well as at pHs 3, 5, 7 and 9. Isotherms models and kinetic models were evaluated. The results showed that CC is a potent BPA adsorbent in aqueous solution, leading to about 90% of removal. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model and isotherm that best suited was the Lagmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 51.25 mgper gram of adsorbent fiber, after 20 min of contact. The thermogravimetric analysis allowed us to conclude that CC is a material resistant to high temperatures, due to the presence of a considerable amount of lignin. Finally, the best results of BPA removal efficiency by CC compared to activated carbon corroborate its high biosorption capacity.

Abstract Aim Urbanization leads to rapid changes in ecosystem structure and function. Wetlands on university campuses under urbanization pressure could be used as case studies of multidisciplinary aquatic research and good environmental practices promoting sustainability. Methods A paleolimnological study was undertaken in a semi-artificial lake on a university campus in southern Brazil to trace historical impacts and ecological changes back to the mid-1970s through complementary approaches: historical data, nutrients, δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes, diatoms, microplastics and associated microbial community analysis. Results The eutrophication process started to intensify after the lake was used for nocturnal roosting by waterbirds, and especially after the establishment of constructions along the margins with septic tank sanitary sewage, which eventually spilled and leached into the lake. Over decades, we identified a limnological hypertrophication process leading to recurrent cyanobacterial blooms and massive macrophyte proliferation coupled with changes in isotopic ratios and algal occupation with several transitions between shallow lake alternative states. Such a limnological process has resembled the paleolimnological eutrophication trends and isotopic changes in sedimentary organic matter. The microplastic deposition was detected as a proxy for the intensification of urbanization, especially during the construction of the University facilities. Conclusions The combined use of paleolimnological and historical limnological data represents a powerful approach for inferring both natural and cultural impacts on the lake, and identifying management strategies based on such scientific information.