Ecuador is at the crossroads of a booming environmental crisis as the world struggles to cope with the escalating waste production, especially pollution from domestic and industrial sources. The sharp rise in plastic production has led to its widespread accumulation around the world, which has greatly led to most municipal solid waste. The inherent qualities of plastics, such as their durability, low manufacturing costs, and versatility of various temperatures, make them incorporate into the structure of everyday life. However, the properties that make plastics attractive also emphasize the growing environmental dilemma. Their stubborn persistence in the environment, slowly split into smaller debris, dispersing through air, soil and water, forming a pollution network across ecosystems. The situation took a turn for the worse with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a marked increase in the use of single-use plastics, further straining already mismanaged waste systems in many regions, including Latin America and, by extension, Ecuador.
Gabriela Yánez-Jácome, David Romero-Estévez and Pamela Vélez-Terreros, researchers at the Pope Catholic University of Ecuador, delve into this pressing issue in a comprehensive review published by Heliyon. The findings show that the existence of Chinese congressmen in the Ecuadorian ecosystem, from coastal waters to the air we breathe, means everything from food to drinking water. Identify the major challenges posed by insufficient waste management systems.
Gabriela Yánez-Jácome’s focus is: “The general distribution of microplastics among various components of the Ecuadorian environment has been proven.” The study notes that the accumulation of MPs poses a significant risk to marine life and terrestrial ecosystems, indicating an urgent need Action is needed. David Romero-Estévez stressed: “Effective management strategies must mitigate the adverse impacts of MPs on the environment and human health.” Improvements in waste management and wastewater treatment are key steps to address this issue.
Furthermore, Pamela Vélez-Terreros argues for the importance of public education to the matter: “Increasing public awareness of the source and dangers of members of Congress can greatly promote their Environmental Impact. ” The study shows that informed communities can better engage in sustainability efforts and adopt environmental practices.
The wide distribution of MP in water and terrestrial environments, including air, water, sediments and marine life, suggests different pathways of MP exposure, such as food and drinking water. This exposure can lead to various human health effects of intake or inhalation. The complexity of the chemical characteristics of MPS and its interaction with toxic pollutants emphasizes the potential impact on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, biota and human health, and further research is therefore required on a global scale. In Ecuador, especially in major cities, the establishment of wastewater treatment plants is crucial to the ongoing monitoring of MP coastal pollution and the development of environmental and food safety regulations. National authorities must also develop plans to improve public impacts on issues related to plastic use and on environmental and human health related to MP. National authorities must encourage research on MPs to develop strategies and control these emerging pollutants.
Journal Reference
Vélez-Terreros, PY, Romero-Estévez, D. and Yanez-Jácome, GS (2024). “Ecuador’s Microplastics: A Review of Challenges to Environmental and Health Risk Assessment”. Heliyon, 10, E23232. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23232.
About the Author
Gabriela S.Yánez-Jácomeborn in Latacunga – Ecuador (1987). Master of Advanced Fine Chemistry from the University of Cordoba, Spain (2013). Researchers at Centro de esudios aplicados enquímica at the University of Pontificia (Cesaq-puce) in Ecuador.
Her research is consistent with the identification of environmental and food contaminants (mainly toxic trace metals) through different analytical and instrumental methods. Assessment of toxic metal exposure and risk assessment in human health.
OrcID: 0000-0002-0361-2729
David Romero-Estévezborn in Quito, Ecuador (1987), Analytical Chemistry (2010) and Masters, Masters and Masters in Prevention of Occupational Hazards. Researchers from Centro de estudios aplicados enquímica from Pontificiacatólica del Ecuador. His main research is the extraction and determination of toxic metals in food, environmental matrix, and biomolecules in vegetable matrix. He is also part of the Bioinca International Hybrid Laboratory participation project at the Institute of Development (IRD). In 2022, he received the Eugenio Espejo decoration from the Quito Metropolitan Council and was awarded an outstanding figure in the fields of precision and natural sciences.
OrcID: 0000-0003-1381-9464
Pamela Y.Vélez-Terreros Born in Quito-Ecuador (1989). She received a degree in analytical chemistry from pontificiciacatólica del eCuador (2014), a degree in chemical science, and a master’s degree in food development and innovation from the University of Barcelona, Spain (2019). As a laboratory analyst, she worked with the Environmental and Chemical Services Laboratory at the University of Pontificia for 3 years. Currently, due to her expertise, she is part of the investigative team of Centro de Estudios aplicados enQuímica (Cesaq – PUCE) in Ecuador. Her research and analysis focused primarily on toxic trace metals in the food and environmental matrix.
OrcID: 0000-0002-2366-7313
