We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Human footprints at hadal depths: interlayer and intralayer comparison of sediment cores from the Kuril Kamchatka trench
Summary
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and found microplastic pollution at hadal depths exceeding 8,000 meters, with both interlayer and intralayer comparisons confirming that human-made plastic contamination has reached the deepest ocean environments.
Microplastic (MP) pollution affects almost all ecosystems on Earth. Given the increasing plastic production worldwide and the durability of these polymers, concerns arise about the fate of this material in the environment. A candidate to consider as a depositional final sink of MP is the sea floor and its deepest representatives, hadal trenches, as ultimate sinks. In this study, 13 sediment samples were collected with a multiple-corer at depths between 5740 and 9450 m from the Kuril Kamchatka trench (KKT), in the Northwest (NW) Pacific Ocean. These samples were analysed for MP presence in the upper sediment layer, by slicing the first 5 cm of sediment cores into 1 cm horizontal layers. These were compared against each other and between the sampling areas, in order to achieve a detailed picture of the depositional system of the trench and small-scale perturbations such as bioturbation. The analyses revealed the presence of 215 to 1596 MP particles per kg sediment (dry weight), with a polymer composition represented by 14 polymer types and the prevalence of particles smaller than 25 μm. A heterogeneous microplastic distribution through the sediment column and different microplastic concentration and polymer types among sampling stations located in different areas of the trench reflects the dynamics of this environment and the numerous forces that drive the deposition processes and the in situ recast of this pollutant at the trench floor.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Systematic identification of microplastics in abyssal and hadal sediments of the Kuril Kamchatka trench
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.
Journey to the deep: plastic pollution in the hadal of deep-sea trenches.
Researchers conducted one of the largest surveys of macroplastic debris at hadal depths down to 9,600 meters in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, finding packaging and fishing-related items primarily made of polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon transported by ocean currents.
Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments
Researchers analyzed deep-sea sediment cores and found microplastics present at depth, providing early evidence that deep-sea sediments globally accumulate microplastic pollution far from coastlines and at the seafloor.
Comparison of Microplastic abundance in varying depths of deep-sea sediments, Bay of Bengal
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in deep-sea sediment samples from the Bay of Bengal at depths of 225 to 1,070 meters, finding the highest concentrations at intermediate depths. The findings add to evidence that microplastics have penetrated into deep-sea environments far from the surface.
The ocean’s ultimate trashcan: Hadal trenches as major depositories for plastic pollution
Analysis of hadal trenches - the deepest points in the ocean - found them to be major accumulation zones for microplastics and plastic debris, with concentrations higher than many surface ocean regions. This reveals that plastic pollution has reached the most remote and extreme environments on Earth, transported by deep-sea currents to ultimate depositional sinks.