We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics and POPs on the Southwestern Atlantic deep-sea floor: a study of megafauna and sediments
Summary
This study provided the first report of microplastics and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Southwestern Atlantic deep-sea floor, examining both sediments and benthic megafauna. Microplastics and POPs were detected in deep-sea organisms and sediments, demonstrating that even remote deep-ocean environments in the Southern Hemisphere are contaminated by surface-derived plastic pollution.
The deep sea is a historical sink for litter, but efforts to assess the human footprint in this ecosystem are relatively recent. Building upon previous works on the continental margins of the Southern Hemisphere, this study presents the first report of microplastics (MPs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for the Southwestern Atlantic deep-sea floor. Ingestion of MPs by benthic invertebrates, and contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in demersal teleostean fish and sediments were recorded in the central Santos Basin, along the Brazilian continental slope, between 400 and 1503 m depth. Individuals from 9 invertebrate species (n = 61 organisms) had their gut content examined, with 3 species ingesting anthropogenic particles shaped like fibers (n = 23 fibers). The sea cucumber Deima validum was the most contaminated species, with 1.64 ± 0.70 fiber individual, and 54.54 % of individuals ingesting fibers. Five fibers were identified as MPs, composed of polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyaryletherketone, polystyrene and polysulfide synthetic rubber. Total PCBs in the fish (n = 14 organisms) ranged from 519 to 7636 ng g (lipid weight), and from 1.28 to 3.96 ng g (dry weight) in the sediments. Among the PBDEs investigated, only BDE-47 and BDE-99 were found, and only in the fish. While additional work is needed to ascertain the possible origin and ecological implications of MPs and POPs found at the bottom of the ocean, this study provides critical data on pollution levels for the deep-sea community of Southeastern Brazil.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
High Abundances of Microplastic Pollution in Deep-Sea Sediments: Evidence from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
Microplastic pollution was investigated in deep-sea sediments from Antarctic and Southern Ocean regions, finding high abundances that varied among sites. The study confirmed that microplastics are accumulating in the remote Antarctic deep-sea environment, with evidence going back to scientific literature from the 1980s that has accelerated in recent years.
>b/b<: influence of feeding mode on microplastic intake by benthic organisms and detection of persistent organic pollutants in biological and sediment samples
This study investigated micropollutant accumulation including microplastics in deep-sea organisms from the Southern Atlantic, examining how feeding mode influences contaminant intake. Results showed that filter feeders and deposit feeders accumulated different levels of microplastics and chemical pollutants, reflecting the deep sea's vulnerability to surface pollution.
Micropoluentes no mar profundo: influência do modo alimentar na ingestão de microplásticos em organismos bentônicos e detecção de poluentes orgânicos persistentes em amostras biológicas e de sedimento
This Portuguese-language study examined micropollutant exposure including microplastics in deep-sea organisms from the Southern Atlantic, analyzing how feeding mode determines microplastic ingestion across different species. The research found that even the most remote marine habitats on Earth harbor plastic contamination detectable in deep-sea fauna.
Investigation of Microplastics from Deep-Sea Antarctic and West Coast North American Sediments
Microplastics were identified in deep-sea sediments from both Antarctic and North American Pacific sites, confirming that plastic pollution has reached even the most remote ocean floor environments far from human activity.
Emerging and legacy pollutants in abyssal sediments of the world’s largest enclosed waterbody
Sediment samples from the abyssal zones of the western Pacific revealed both legacy pollutants (PCBs, DDT) and microplastics at significant depths, showing that even the most remote deep-sea environments are contaminated by human-made chemicals. The co-occurrence suggests microplastics may serve as carriers transporting persistent organic pollutants to the deep ocean.