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Using a non-invasive technique for the preliminary estimation of microplastics in Callorhinus ursinus Linnaeus (1758) (Pinnipedia, Otariidae) from the Sea of Okhotsk
Summary
Researchers analyzed six scat samples from northern fur seals in the Sea of Okhotsk using Raman spectroscopy to non-invasively screen for microplastic contamination, finding very few confirmed plastic microfibers but a substantially higher load of anthropogenic particles — primarily cellulose fibers with synthetic dyes — highlighting the need for larger sample sizes and mandatory chemical confirmation.
This pilot study focuses on the non-invasive determination of microplastic (MPs) and anthropogenic particle contamination in Northern Fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, based on the analysis of six scat samples. The work included a comparative review of MPs extraction methods aimed at optimizing the digestion protocol to minimize particle loss. Potential contaminants were isolated from samples collected on Tyuleny Island and characterized by type, color, size, and composition. Spectral analysis of the material composition using Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of an insignificant number of plastic microfibers, so at this stage it is only possible to conclude that they were not unequivocally detected. However, the overall load of anthropogenic particles, represented mainly by cellulose fibers with synthetic dyes, was substantially higher. The majority of colored fibers and fragments contain synthetic dyes, confirming their anthropogenic origin. The obtained results highlight the need for further research with an expanded sample size and the mandatory application of chemical methods for material composition analysis.