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Microplastics in the fresh waters of the coastal oasis of the East Antarctica (on an the example of the Thala Hills, Enderby Land)
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Researchers collected and analyzed water samples from three lakes and one temporary reservoir in the Thala Hills Oasis, East Antarctica during the 14th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition in 2022/2023 to document microplastic contamination for the first time in the region. Microplastic particles were detected in all samples, with fibers constituting 81% of particles and fragments under 1 mm accounting for 90% of non-fiber particles.
The first data on the content of microplastic particles in freshwater reservoirs of the East Antarctica (by the example of the Thala Hills Oasis, Enderby Land) are presented. The studies were made during the 14 th BAE in 2022/2023 with the selection and filtration of water from three lakes and one temporary reservoir. Filtration was carried out in two stages: in the field conditions through a plankton network to concentrate a sample and then in the laboratory through White Ribbon filters. Dried filters after delivery to Minsk were analyzed using a microscope, digital camera and consulting software. It was found that microplastic particles were present in all analyzed samples. Fibers dominated in all samples, amounting to 81 % of the total microplastic particles. The particle size, represented by fragments of irregularly shaped plastics, is less than 1 mm in 90 % of cases. The fiber size in 91 % of cases ranges from 1 to 5 mm with a maximum value of 16.4 mm. The importance of developing research and assessing the levels of microplastic pollution in Antarctic fresh water is shown with the consideration of seasonal changes in their condition, morphometric and other features.
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Researchers analyzed seven soil samples from the Vecherny Oasis in the Thala Hills, East Antarctica to quantify microplastic content for the first time in this region, finding particles in all samples at concentrations ranging from 66 to 1,933 units per kilogram of dry soil. Particles smaller than 1 mm predominated (70-100%), with fibers comprising the majority of identified shapes, and no clear spatial association with nearby infrastructure was observed.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.