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Microplastics in bulk atmospheric deposition along the coastal region of Victoria Land, Antarctica
Summary
Researchers collected atmospheric samples from eight sites along the coast of Antarctica throughout 2020 and found microplastics falling from the air at all locations that were successfully sampled. The most common particles were tiny polypropylene and polyethylene fragments under 10 micrometers in size. Analysis of air movement patterns suggested that some of these microplastics may have traveled long distances through the atmosphere to reach even the most remote Antarctic sites.
The increasing global concern over microplastic pollution has driven a surge in research efforts aimed at detecting microplastics across various ecosystems. Airborne microplastics (MPs) have been identified in remote environments worldwide, including Antarctica. However, data on bulk atmospheric deposition remain scarce. From January to December 2020, atmospheric deposition was directly collected using passive samplers placed in eight sites across Victoria Land. Using Raman Microspectroscopy, MPs were identified in six out of the seven samples collected (one sample was lost due to the extreme weather conditions). The average daily MP deposition for Victoria Land was 1.7 ± 1.1 MPs m-2 d-1, with values ranging from 0.76 to 3.44 MPs m-2 d-1. The majority (53 %) of MPs found in the atmospheric deposition were in the size class of 5-10 μm, and the main shape of MPs was fragments (95 %). The predominant plastic type was polypropylene (31 %), followed by polyethylene (19 %) and polycarbonate (12 %). Polystyrene, polyester, styrene and polyethylene terephthalate each accounted for ~6 %. Microplastics identified in the coastal sites may have local origins, potentially associated with scientific activities at research stations. Conversely, a backward trajectories analysis suggested a potential contribution of atmospheric transport to microplastic deposition at Larsen Glacier and Tourmaline Plateau, the two most remote sites of the study area, where the highest MP concentrations were detected. Our findings present the first evidence of microplastics in the Antarctic atmospheric deposition directly collected via passive samplers, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and research to assess the environmental impact of MPs, particularly in sensitive and remote ecosystems like Antarctica.
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