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Anthropogenic microparticles in the emerald rockcod Trematomus bernacchii (Nototheniidae) from the Antarctic
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Researchers found anthropogenic microparticles — including polyester, polypropylene, and cellulose acetate fibers — in Antarctic rockcod (Trematomus bernacchii) specimens collected in 1998, providing historical evidence that plastic contamination of Antarctic fish predates modern awareness of the issue.
Anthropogenic microparticles (AMs) were found for the first time in specimens of Trematomus bernacchii collected in 1998 in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) and stored in the Antarctic Environmental Specimen Bank. Most of the identified AMs were fibers of natural and synthetic origin. The natural AMs were cellulosic, the synthetic ones were polyester, polypropylene, polypropylene/polyester, and cellulose acetate. The presence of dyes in the natural AMs indicates their anthropogenic origin. Five industrial dyes were identified by Raman spectroscopy with Indigo occurring in most of them (55%). Our research not only adds further data to the ongoing knowledge of pollution levels in the Antarctic ecosystem, it provides an interesting snapshot of the past, highlighting that microplastics and anthropogenic fiber pollution had already entered the Antarctic marine food web at the end of the '90 s. These findings therefore establish the foundations for understand the changes in marine litter pollution over time.
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Anthropogenic microparticles in the emerald rockcod Trematomus bernacchii (Nototheniidae): a 1998 snapshot from the Antarctica
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Researchers found anthropogenic microparticles — including synthetic polymer fibers — in specimens of Antarctic rockcod fish collected in 1998 and stored in a specimen bank, providing historical evidence that microplastic contamination had already reached Antarctic marine food webs by the late 1990s. The study demonstrates the value of archived biological samples for establishing long-term contamination baselines.
Monitoring of anthropogenic microplastic pollution in antarctic fish (emerald rockcod) from the Terranova Bay after a quarter of century
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Scientists analyzed 78 emerald rockcod fish caught in Antarctica's Ross Sea and compared their microplastic contamination to fish from the same area sampled 25 years earlier. They found a shift toward more synthetic fibers and different polymer types, reflecting increased human activity in the region over the past two decades. The study shows that even Antarctica's wildlife is accumulating more microplastics over time, underlining the global reach of plastic pollution.
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This study provides the first evidence of microplastic contamination in Antarctic fish, finding moderate levels of microplastics in species from the Amundsen and Ross Seas with differences in polymer type and size linked to regional human activities.
Investigating the effects of microplastics on the metabolism of Trematomus bernacchii from the ross sea (Antarctica)
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Scientists examined Antarctic fish (Trematomus bernacchii) from the Ross Sea and found microplastic fibers in 70% of specimens, showing that even the most remote ecosystems are contaminated. While the microplastics did not dramatically change the overall fat composition of the fish, the study documented that plastic pollution has reached wildlife in pristine Antarctic waters. This is concerning because it demonstrates the truly global scale of microplastic contamination throughout the food web.
Cellulosic and microplastic fibers in the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis
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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.