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How small is the big problem? Small microplastics ¡300 µm abundant in marine surface waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Summary
Using a modified manta net capable of collecting smaller particles than standard equipment, researchers found that microplastics smaller than 300 micrometers were the most abundant size in marine surface water samples. These small particles are in the size range of plankton, raising concerns about their availability for ingestion by planktivorous organisms. The results suggest that standard sampling methods using coarser nets substantially underestimate the concentration of ecologically relevant microplastics in the ocean.
Particle size plays an important role in determining the behaviour, fate and effects of microplastics (MPs), yet little is known about MPs in-situ. Using a modified manta net, we demonstrate that MPs were present in all marine surface water samples, with a mean sea surface concentration of 0.23 ± 0.03 particles m-3. Microplastics were mainly blue, clear and black fibres and fragments, consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene plastic polymers. Tourism and marine recreation were considered the major contributing sources of MPs to surface waters around the Whitsunday Islands. Between 10 and 124 times the number of MPs exist in the 50 um – 300 um size class, compared with the 1 mm – 5 mm size range, indicating the global abundance of small MPs in marine surface waters is grossly underestimated and warrants further investigation. Research into the occurrence, characteristics and environmental fate of MPs Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/426057/document