The study measured microplastic particles along Rio’s 1.7 kilometre Flamengo Beach. Researchers sampled different stretches of sand before, during and shortly after Carnival, and carried out a fourth round of sampling eight months later. The research was done in 2024, a year when Flamengo hosted 18 parades, including three that attracted more than 100,000 people.
Results showed plastic fragments, including glitter, made up 66.3 per cent of microplastics, with fibres at 26.2 per cent and granules at 7.5 per cent. Particle levels remained elevated for several days after Carnival ended. Citywide figures for 2024 noted around eight million people attended Rio’s festivities.
Researchers warn microplastics can be carried by tides, wind and currents into the nearshore sea and the adjacent ocean. These particles can be ingested by seabed animals or filter feeders, carry toxic substances and heavy metals, and cause digestive obstruction, reduced feeding and other physiological changes. The study also lists non-plastic glitter alternatives and mentions a proposed ban on plastic and metal glitter.
Difficult words
- microplastic — very small plastic pieces in the environmentmicroplastic particles, microplastics
- fragment — small broken pieces of a larger objectplastic fragments
- glitter — tiny shiny plastic or metal pieces
- fibre — long thin threads from cloth or materialfibres
- sample — to take a small piece for testingsampled, sampling
- tide — regular rise and fall of the seatides
- ingest — to take food or particles into the bodyingested
- filter feeder — animal that eats small particles from waterfilter feeders
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you seen glitter or small plastic pieces on a local beach or park? How did they affect the area?
- What could cities do to reduce microplastic pollution after large public events?
- Would you support a ban on plastic and metal glitter? Why or why not?
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