DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18027598
title: ImaMPs: Extensive image dataset of microplastics in freshwater from tourist areas in the State of Mexico, Mexico.

description: ImaMPs: Extensive image dataset of microplastics in freshwater from tourist areas in the State of Mexico, Mexico.

In Mexico, tourism represents one of the main economic and cultural activities, with more than 177 Pueblos Mágicos [1] and various natural areas recognized as tourist destinations. However, these areas, mainly water bodies, face environmental issues related to microplastic pollution, particles of synthetic polymers ranging from 5 mm to 1 μm in size, which enter aquatic ecosystems and affect both biota and fishing and tourism activities.

To contribute to the identification and classification of microplastics in water bodies, the creation of a dataset called Images of Microplastics (ImaMPs) is presented, consisting of 6,000 images in TIFF format. These images were generated from water samples collected in situ at three tourist sites in the State of Mexico, Mexico: the “Miguel Alemán” dam, in the municipality of Valle de Bravo; the Chalma Sanctuary, in the municipality of Ocuilan; and the “Las Ciénegas de Lerma” wetlands, in the municipality of Lerma. The water samples underwent a filtration process using cellulose membranes, which were analyzed with a stereoscopic optical microscope (Velab VE-S5C [2]), adjusting the RGB bands and zoom variation (0.7x–4.5x) to improve image quality and facilitate analysis. The cellulose membranes used in the filtration process have the following characteristics:





Diameter: 0.47 mm




Grid: 170–225 squares




Pore size: 0.22 μm




Color: white



The dataset is organized into two classes: 3,000 images with microplastics (MP), located in the CLASE_1 folder, and 3,000 without microplastics (NMP), located in the CLASE_0 folder. All images are identified by a consecutive number and have resolutions of 2040x1528 and 1016x760 pixels, with a distribution of 4,262 images in the first resolution and 1,738 in the second.

In addition to the image set, a comma-separated values file (DATA_ImaMPs.cvs) is included with the following information:





ID of each image.




File name.




Place where the sample was taken.




Date of capture of the sample.




Label (with or without microplastics).




Image size.



The ImaMPs database constitutes an innovative and scientifically relevant resource by offering a standardized and accessible set for the identification and classification of microplastics in images. Its potential applications range from environmental research to the use of machine learning techniques and optical analysis, contributing to the understanding of synthetic polymer pollution and the development of technological strategies aimed at mitigating its impacts on ecosystems and tourism economies.

Reference

[1] Núñez Camarena, G. M. (2016, May). Los pueblos mágicos de México: mecanismo de la SECTUR para poner en valor el territorio. In VIII Seminario Internacional de Investigación en Urbanismo, Barcelona-Balneário Camboriú, Junio 2016. Departament d’Urbanisme i Ordenació del Territori. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

[2] Tinoco, V. B., Moreno, F. M., & Moreno, S. M. (2023). Comportamiento y desarrollo del sector turístico en México. Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 7(2), 8988-9003.