Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples

Abstract

Plastic, as a form of marine litter, is found in varying quantities and sizes around the globe from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Identifying patterns of microplastic distribution will benefit an understanding of the scale of their potential effect on the environment and organisms. As sea ice extent is reducing in the Arctic, heightened shipping and fishing activity may increase marine pollution in the area. Microplastics may enter the region following ocean transport and local input, although baseline contamination measurements are still required. Here we present the first study of microplastics in Arctic waters, south and southwest of Svalbard, Norway. Microplastics were found in surface (top 16 cm) and sub-surface (6 m depth) samples using two independent techniques. Origins and pathways bringing microplastic to the Arctic remain unclear. Particle composition (95% fibres) suggests they may either result from the breakdown of larger items (transported over large distances by prevailing currents, or derived from local vessel activity), or input in sewage and wastewater from coastal areas. Concurrent observations of high zooplankton abundance suggest a high probability for marine biota to encounter microplastics and a potential for trophic interactions. Further research is required to understand the effects of microplastic-biota interaction within this productive environment.

Distribution and abundance of surface water microlitter in the Baltic Sea: A comparison of two sampling methods

“…This will take time, and meanwhile monitoring should already be going on and preferably also the targets and threshold values set. Manta trawl has been one of the first devices used for assessing microlitter in the water column/sea surface (Eriksen et al, 2013, 2014, Lusher et al, 2015. In spite of its wide and successful use, manta may also be criticised, because of the likely inaccuracy when converting the amount of collected litter particles into concentrations per water volume, or because of the actual size fraction that manta is able to collect, which is restricted to N333 μm.…”

Modeling the Fate and Transport of Plastic Debris in Freshwaters: Review and Guidance

“…Besides the potential effect of ingestion, plastic particles can act as vectors for organic pollutants [9] or function as floaters for (invasive) rafting species [10]. The occurrence and distribution of plastic debris in the marine environment has been studied even in the most remote areas, such as the arctic [11] and the ocean floor [12]. However, even though rivers are recognized as a major source of marine litter [13][14][15], the occurrence of plastic debris in freshwater systems just started to receive attention [16,17].…”

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

“…This is also the most suitable option, while the manta net is surely out of the wake zone. In some surveys manta net was fixed from the stern of the vessel 17,18 , but in that case you have to be sure that the net is out of the wake zone. The distance, on which the trawl is set for sampling, should be determined individually, since the zone of turbulences caused by the vessel varies from the size of the vessel and from the speed of the boat 19,20 .…”