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Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
Summary
Researchers investigated the abundance, composition, size distribution, and shape of microplastics in sea ice cores collected at the Shiretoko Peninsula at the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk. The study detected nine microplastic types predominantly in fragmentary shapes at concentrations of 0-60 particles per liter, with most fragments smaller than 120 micrometers and all fiber MPs in the largest size class above 210 micrometers.
Abstract Sea ice is regarded as a temporal sink and carrier of microplastics (MPs). Nevertheless, knowledge and understanding of MPs in sea ice remain sparse. This study investigated the abundance, composition, size (>30 micro m), and shape of MPs in four sea-ice cores retrieved at the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk. Nine microplastic (MP) types, mostly with fragmentary shapes, were detected among ice-core sections. Most fragmentary MPs were smaller than 120 micro m, but all fiber MPs were in the largest size class (>210 micro m). MP concentrations were 0–60 particles/L, with an average of 21 particles/L. Higher occurrences of MPs observed in the lower ice layers are attributable to heavier MP contamination in the southern part of the sea and/or relocation of MPs in the ice matrix. No significant correlation was found between the distributions of MP and inorganic particle (sediment) abundances, implying difference in their kinetics of suspension freezing. Taken together, these findings suggest important implications for elucidating the nature and distribution of MPs in sea ice.