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Environmental Sources
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Antarctic wastewater: A local source of microplastic pollution
Marine Pollution Bulletin2024
16 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Nathalie Bernard‐Marissal,
Nathalie Bernard‐Marissal,
Nathalie Bernard‐Marissal,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Nathalie Bernard‐Marissal,
Lucas Ruberto,
Lucas Ruberto,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
François Oberhaënsli,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Cristian Vodopívez,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Cristian Vodopívez,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
Cristian Vodopívez,
François Oberhaënsli,
Cristian Vodopívez,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Lucas Ruberto,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Lucas Ruberto,
François Oberhaënsli,
Cristian Vodopívez,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Cristian Vodopívez,
François Oberhaënsli,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
François Oberhaënsli,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
François Oberhaënsli,
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Marc Métian,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Marc Métian,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Nathalie Bernard‐Marissal,
Nathalie Bernard‐Marissal,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Cristian Vodopívez,
Marc Métian,
Marc Métian,
Carlos Alonso‐Hernández
Summary
Researchers identified for the first time that a wastewater treatment plant in Antarctica is a local source of microplastic pollution, detecting 64 to 159 particles per liter of wastewater. Over 90% of the identified particles were smaller than 50 micrometers, comprising common polymer types including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET, demonstrating the need for improved treatment technologies even in remote polar regions.
Microplastic (MP) particles can be found all around the planet, even in Antarctica where they can be locally originated or transported by marine currents and winds. In this communication, we identify and report for the first time the contribution of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as a local source of MP particles in the region. The analysis of the entire sample using micro-Raman spectroscopy revealed an MP concentration that ranged from 64 to 159 particles per liter of wastewater. >90 % of the identified particles were smaller than 50 μm. Among those analyzed, microplastics were identified as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. These findings demonstrate the need for urgent policies and technologies to mitigate this MP contamination source.