We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Anthropogenic particles in European Arctic marine environments: impacts from the world's northernmost settlement at 78° N
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic particles were found in water samples from fjords near Longyearbyen in Svalbard, the world's northernmost permanent settlement, showing that even Arctic communities contribute to local plastic contamination. Inflowing ocean currents also transport plastics from distant sources into these fjords. The findings highlight the dual role of local human activity and long-range ocean transport in spreading microplastics to remote polar environments.
Microplastics ( This study investigates water samples collected in the inner part of Isfjorden and Adventfjorden, located in western Svalbard, which is influenced by inflowing water masses from the Fram Strait in addition to local runoff from rivers and surrounding glaciers. The world's northernmost settlement, Longyearbyen, is also located here and has a non-treated wastewater outflow to Adventfjorden. The samples were collected on both sides of the opening of Adventfjorden. Two in the inflowing current and two in the outflowing current of the fjord. Replicate water samples were collected with a CTD cast equipped with Niskin bottles in June 2021. An already established oleo-extraction was applied to extract anthropogenic particles (¿50 µm) from the samples. The subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted via Micro-FTIR. Results from the examination of the microplastics will be presented together with previous modelling experiments of fibre transport pathways from the wastewater outlet from Longyearbyen. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427046/document
More Papers Like This
Occurrence and sources of microplastics on Arctic beaches: Svalbard
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled four beach sites near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to assess microplastic contamination in the Arctic. They found microplastics at all sites, with higher concentrations closer to human settlements and wastewater discharge points. The study suggests that even remote Arctic beaches are receiving microplastic pollution, primarily from local sources rather than long-range ocean transport.
Investigation of microplastic pollution in Arctic fjord water: a case study of Rijpfjorden, Northern Svalbard
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the remote Rijpfjorden fjord in Northern Svalbard, sampling both surface water and the water column down to 200 m, and found widespread microplastic presence even in this Arctic environment far from major pollution sources.
The occurrence and sources of microplastics to Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches: human influence on local microplastic hotspots
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastic occurrence and sources at Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches, finding that proximity to human settlements creates local hotspots, while more remote beaches receive microplastics primarily through long-range oceanic transport.
Long-range drift of microplastics towards the Arctic Ocean - discussions on the issue and observations along the North Atlantic current system
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined the long-range transport of microplastics toward the Arctic Ocean via the North Atlantic current system, documenting plastic contamination in waters far from human population centers. The findings demonstrate that microplastics are now globally distributed, reaching polar regions through ocean circulation.
Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reported some of the first measured values for microplastic particles in Arctic polar waters, finding contamination even in these remote high-latitude waters and raising questions about long-range transport mechanisms.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.