Microplastic Concentration vs Depth

Microplastics (MP) have been a growing area of concern in marine environments, but there is still much to learn about their presence in freshwater systems, particularly in terms of their distribution throughout the water column (Cowger et al. 2021). Various types of microplastic polymers exhibit different characteristics and may behave differently at varying depths (Cowger et al. 2021). Sinkholes, locally known as cenotes, occur around the Yucatán Peninsula because of the area’s limestone matrix. These fragile rocks can fracture due to a factor of reasons, but a few are seawater intrusion and vegetation roots breaking up the rock (Schmitter-Soto et al., 2002). An important aspect of this research is the interaction between the halocline and MP concentration. The halocline is a section of the cenote’s depth when freshwater above mixes with the sea water below (Dive & Discover, n.d.). There remains an urgent need to investigate and address the distribution of MP across the different depths within cenotes.