The **Brazilian Amazon**, considered one of the **ecological lungs of the world**, is facing a **growing environmental crisis**: the accumulation of **plastic waste** in its rivers, soils, and species.
A study coordinated by the **Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)**, in collaboration with the **Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute**, conducted the **first systematic review** of this issue in the biome, analyzing **52 scientific research** studies published in recent decades.
## Impacts on aquatic, terrestrial, and human environments
Pollution affects fauna, flora, sediments, and water, with consequences for the **health of riverine and indigenous communities**.
The study identified the presence of **macro, meso, micro, and nanoplastics** in various components of the Amazonian ecosystem. The waste comes from **urban areas, vessels, and local communities**, and moves through rivers that cross **cities and borders**, generating **transnational pollution**.
“The problem is more serious than estimated,” warned epidemiologist **Jesem Orellana** from Fiocruz Amazônia.
## From organic waste to rivers filled with PET
Changes in consumption habits have transformed the composition of **waste in the Amazon interior**.
According to researchers from the Mamirauá Institute, domestic waste in the Amazon used to be **primarily organic**.
Today, rivers are **invaded by plastic bottles, packaging, and bags**, which not only **persist for centuries** but also **break down into invisible particles** that enter the **food chain** and the **human body**.
## Ecological and health effects of plastics
From entanglement of animals to the presence of **microplastics in human organs**.
– **Affected fauna**: entanglement, injuries, and suffocation from plastic ingestion
– **Ecosystem contamination**: from mangroves to remote summits
– **Alteration of soils and groundwater**
– **Micro and nanoplastics in human tissues**, including the brain and placenta
– **Transfer to humans** through the consumption of contaminated fish
## Urgent solutions before COP30
The study calls for expanding research and taking concrete actions before the climate summit in the Amazon.
Ahead of **COP30**, to be held in November in the Amazon region, the report proposes:
– **Public policies** to restrict unnecessary plastics
– **Citizen awareness** and environmental education
– **Reduction of single-use plastics**
– **Improvement in recycling and waste management**
## Environmental justice and territorial regeneration
Plastic pollution in the Amazon is not just an **ecological problem but also a social and cultural issue**.
Indigenous and riverine communities, which depend directly on rivers and forests, are the **most vulnerable** to the impacts of this pollution.
The study by Fiocruz and Mamirauá **highlights a historical environmental debt** and calls for **rethinking the consumption and waste management model** in one of the most vital territories for global balance.
*Cover photo: savingtheamazon*
