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Cellulosic and microplastic fibers in the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis
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Researchers found microfibers in the digestive tracts of 89 percent of Antarctic fish and 73 percent of sub-Antarctic fish examined. While most fibers were cellulose from clothing, synthetic microplastics including polyester and acrylics were also present. The study points to laundry wastewater from research stations as a major source of fiber pollution in Antarctic waters, showing that human activity contaminates even the most remote marine food webs.
Human settlements within the Antarctic continent have caused significant coastal pollution by littering plastic. The present study assessed the potential presence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus, endemic to the polar region, and in the sub-Antarctic fish Harpagifer bispinis. H. antarcticus. A total of 358 microfibers of multiple colors were found in 89 % of H. antarcticus and 73 % of H. bispinis gastrointestinal track. A Micro-FTIR analysis characterized a sub-group (n = 42) of microfibers. It revealed that most of the fibers were cellulose (69 %). Manmade fibers such as microplastics polyethylene terephtalate, acrylics, and semisynthetic/natural cellulosic fibers were present in the fish samples. All the microfibers extracted were textile fibers of blue, black, red, green, and violet color. Our results suggest that laundry greywater discharges of human settlements near coastal waters in Antarctica are a major source of these pollutants in the Antarctic fish.
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Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 15 species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic krill collected near the Antarctic Peninsula. They found microplastics in all species studied, with fish accumulating significantly more particles than krill, and fibers being the most common type. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.
Occurrence of microplastics in Antarctic fishes: Abundance, size, shape, and polymer composition
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Researchers examined four species of Antarctic fish and found microplastics in all of them, with fibers being the most common shape and polypropylene, polyamide, and polyethylene the most common types. Even in one of the most remote regions on Earth, fish are ingesting plastic particles that come from common household materials. This study demonstrates that microplastic contamination has reached every corner of the planet's oceans.
Microplastics in two fish species from Prydz Bay and King George Island: Occurrence, characteristics and risk assessment
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Researchers collected two species of fish from Antarctic coastal waters and found microplastics in 75–88% of individuals, with fibers dominating and rayon being the most common polymer type — a synthetic material used in clothing. Microplastics were more abundant in gill tissue than in the digestive tract, suggesting inhalation-like uptake through the gills is a significant exposure pathway, and fish near King George Island showed higher contamination and higher polymer hazard scores than those from Prydz Bay. The findings demonstrate that plastic pollution has reached even the remote Antarctic marine food web.
A novel report on the distribution of microplastics in ocellated icefish (Chionodraco rastrospinosus) in the northern Antarctic Peninsula
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This is the first study to detect microplastics in the stomach, intestines, and gills of the ocellated icefish (Chionodraco rastrospinosus), a species found only in the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Finding microplastics in this remote and specialized species — with polyester and acrylic fibers as the dominant types — confirms that plastic pollution has penetrated even highly isolated polar food webs.
Marine Debris Reach Antarctic Seals: Fibers Are the Main Ingested Microplastic
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Antarctic seals were found to have ingested microplastics, with fibers being the most common type detected — likely originating from atmospheric deposition or contaminated prey. The findings extend known microplastic contamination to a charismatic and ecologically important Antarctic predator. As plastic pollution increases in the Southern Ocean, large marine mammals face growing exposure through both direct ingestion and the food chain.
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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.