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Emerging and legacy pollutants in abyssal sediments of the world’s largest enclosed waterbody
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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.
This study provides the first integrated assessment of emerging (microplastics, MPs) and legacy (organochlorine pesticides, OCPs; polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) contaminants in abyssal sediments (>700 m) of the southern Caspian Sea. Vertically resolved cores (0-6 cm) were analyzed to determine compound-specific distributions and persistence. MPs were found only in the surface layer (0-2 cm) at 16 items kg dw, composed exclusively of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, indicating restricted downward transport. OCPs such as 4,4-DDT and Dieldrin declined sharply with depth, whereas transformation products (4,4-DDE) and recalcitrant compounds persisted. PCBs were confined to surface sediments, while total PAHs (∑PAHs) increased with depth (49-68 ng g), reflecting stronger contributions from natural petrogenic sources associated with pre-industrial conditions. These results show that the southern Caspian abyss functions as a long-term sink for both emerging and legacy contaminants, governed by hydrographic isolation, weak bottom circulation, and sediment focusing. The co-occurrence of MPs and persistent hydrocarbons underscores the role of enclosed basins in global contaminant storage and long-term pollutant fate.
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Researchers collected deep-sea sediment and organism samples from multiple sites in the western Pacific Ocean and found microplastics at all locations sampled, with depth, distance from land, and current patterns influencing accumulation, confirming the western Pacific deep sea as a significant microplastic sink.
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This review synthesized data on organic pollutants in the deep sea, finding that persistent contaminants including microplastics and their sorbed chemicals reach depths exceeding 10,000 meters through particle sinking, water mass transport, and biological vectors, threatening poorly understood but ecologically vital deep-sea ecosystems.
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Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in sediments collected from the Kuril-Kamchatka deep-sea trench in the Pacific, finding plastic particles in these some of the deepest and most remote ocean environments on Earth. Deep-sea trenches appear to act as final sinks for microplastics transported by ocean currents and biological processes.
Systematic identification of microplastics in abyssal and hadal sediments of the Kuril Kamchatka trench
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Researchers systematically identified and characterised microplastics in abyssal and hadal sediment samples from the Kuril Kamchatka Trench in the North Pacific, one of the deepest ocean regions. They confirmed microplastic accumulation in this remote trench environment, consistent with the hypothesis that deep trenches serve as ultimate sinks for marine plastic debris transported by strong regional currents.
Microplastics and POPs on the Southwestern Atlantic deep-sea floor: a study of megafauna and sediments
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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.
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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.