Microplastics in Bearded Seal Tissues Harvested in the Early 2000s and Recent Years

Doerner, Linnaea

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Microplastics in Bearded Seal Tissues Harvested in the Early 2000s and Recent Years

ScholarWorks - UA (University of Alaska System) 2025

Doerner, Linnaea

Summary

Researchers measured microplastics in muscle tissue from bearded seals harvested in Alaska in the early 2000s and in 2021–2023. All tissues contained microplastics, with muscle showing the highest concentrations, and levels remained stable across the two time periods, indicating persistent long-term contamination in Arctic marine mammals.

Body Systems

Musculoskeletal

Mentor: Dr. Lara Horstmann; Plastic pollution, especially microplastics (MP), contaminates marine environments, including the Arctic. This study examined MP in tissues of bearded seals from Alaska. All tissues contained MP, with muscle showing the highest concentration. MP levels were stable between 2010-2011 and 2021-2023, indicating persistent exposure over time.

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