First long-term evidence of microplastic pollution in the deep subtropical Northeast Atlantic

Reineccius, Janika; Waniek, Joanna J

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119302

Cited by 14 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…This huge potential underestimation of PVC abundances caused by the ATR-FTIR method could explain the low levels of PVC detected in environmental samples compared to the high production rates, as discussed in Reineccius and Waniek. 85 The recent findings of our experiment contributed to a better understanding of degeneration characteristics for a wide range of MP particle types, which commonly occur in the aquatic environment. Degradation rates provide insight into the actual abundance of MPs in the aquatic environment.…”

Section: Changes In Pet Ftir Signalsmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…A similar observation was previously made by Hendrickson et al in which PVC measured by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (pyr-GC/MS) was identified as PE by ATR-FTIR. This huge potential underestimation of PVC abundances caused by the ATR-FTIR method could explain the low levels of PVC detected in environmental samples compared to the high production rates, as discussed in Reineccius and Waniek …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abiotic Long-Term Simulation of Microplastic Weathering Pathways under Different Aqueous Conditions

Reineccius

Schönke

Waniek

2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most abundant and widespread anthropogenic pollutants worldwide. In addition to the global spread and threats of plastic to native species by carrying toxic substances, its slow degradation rate and resulting long retention time in the environment constitute a problem that is still poorly understood. In this study, five of the most manufactured plastic types were weathered under simulated beach conditions for 18 months in freshwater, brackish water, and seawater. Those included polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PP was the first polymer type that fragmented after 9 months of weathering and influenced the pH of the surrounding water. Molecular surface changes were detected for all polymers, just after the first week. Hydroxyl bonds were one of the first groups incorporated into the polymers, weakening 2–3 weeks later. Carbonyl groups were also measured early, but with significantly different developments with time between the polymer types. Differences in degradation rates were proven between the water media, with the fastest degradation in seawater compared to brackish water and freshwater for PE and PP. These results are consistent with previous findings on MPs aged under environmental conditions and provide initial long-term observations of MP degradation pathways under simulated environmental conditions. These findings are valuable for assessing the fate and hazards of MPs in aquatic systems.

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Section: Changes In Pet Ftir Signalsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abiotic Long-Term Simulation of Microplastic Weathering Pathways under Different Aqueous Conditions

Reineccius

Schönke

Waniek

2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…When comparing the dimensions of microplastics on the beaches with findings from previous studies, our results exhibited larger sizes than those reported by [94] along a transect from the European Coast to the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre [10], across various European beaches, [57] in the Macaronesian region (NE Atlantic), and [95] in the North Atlantic. However, it is essential to note that [96] observed larger particle dimensions in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. This discrepancy may be attributed to various factors, such as pressures, oceanic and atmospheric conditions, the season of sampling, and differences in methodologies employed across studies.…”

Section: Dimensionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Unveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator

Amorim,

Costa,

Costa

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Millions of tons of solid waste, mostly plastics, are annually dumped into the oceans, posing a major 21st-century environmental threat. Commercial shipping and ocean gyres exacerbate pollution on remote islands, resulting in the widespread presence of microplastics throughout the marine environment. Most of this pollution is plastics, and its fragmentation originates from microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm). These debris are ubiquitous throughout the marine environment, dispersed among beaches, estuaries, on the water surface, and even on the seafloor. This study was carried out on São Miguel Island, Azores, where sediment samples were collected and analysed for microplastic (MP) abundance and dimension across eight areas covering the entire coastline of the island. Each area was divided into four sites along an inland–coastal gradient, from the stream to the ocean (upstream, downstream, coastal, and submerged marine sediments), following a nested design approach. In addition to this first method, 15 beaches, spread along the island’s shore, were also tested and compared. Fibres were the most common type of microplastic, with varying levels of abundance across different locations. Abundance generally increased closer to the coast, but there were occasional instances of high upstream concentrations due to heavy rains, which then accumulated near coastlines and beaches. This study revealed an important local MP source from an apparently pristine touristic region which, aligned with other recent findings, unveils an important and silent pollution issue potentially affecting oceanic islands that should be seriously addressed in future studies and raise concern for litter management and mitigation and environmental awareness actions.

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Marine Microplastics: Abundance, Ecotoxic Consequences of Associated Anthropogenic Contaminants and Interactions with Microorganisms

Tarafdar

Mohamed

Kwon

2023

Energy, Environment, and Sustainability

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First long-term evidence of microplastic pollution in the deep subtropical Northeast Atlantic

Cited by 14 publications

References 90 publications

Abiotic Long-Term Simulation of Microplastic Weathering Pathways under Different Aqueous Conditions

Abiotic Long-Term Simulation of Microplastic Weathering Pathways under Different Aqueous Conditions

Unveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator

Marine Microplastics: Abundance, Ecotoxic Consequences of Associated Anthropogenic Contaminants and Interactions with Microorganisms

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