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Occurrence and distribution patterns of small microplastics (11-500µm) in the southern weddell sea off antarctica
Summary
Researchers assessed small microplastics in the 11-500 micron size range in the Southern Ocean, a region considered remote and pristine, filling a gap left by prior studies that focused on larger particles. Microplastics were detected even in this remote marine environment, suggesting widespread dispersal beyond populated regions.
Marine microplastic (MP) pollution is known to be widespread even in the Southern Ocean south of the polar front, despite this region being considered pristine and remote. However, previous studies in this region have mostly focused on MPs ¿300 μm, potentially underestimating the extent of MP pollution. This study provides the first detailed investigation of small microplastic (MP) pollution (11–500 μm) in the seawater surface of the Southern Ocean. Sampling was conducted in the Southern Weddell Sea, a particularly remote part of the Southern Ocean experiencing negligible human activity. By means of an in-house-designed pumping and filtrations system, seventeen surface water samples were collected during the PS124 expedition onboard RV Polarstern. The samples were analyzed using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR) with focal plane array (FPA) detection, revealing MPs in all samples, predominantly smaller than 300 μm (98.3 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/563728/document
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