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Anthropogenic sources and oceanographic dynamics control the microplastic distribution in the Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers continuously sampled ocean water along a 1,600-nautical-mile transect from Norway to the Arctic, finding microplastic concentrations up to 491 particles per cubic meter, with elevated levels near the Norwegian coast linked to wastewater and ship greywater discharges. The highest concentrations near remote Bear Island were tied to oceanographic features like the Polar Front that trap and concentrate floating plastics.
This study investigated the influence of oceanographic dynamics on marine microplastic (MP) distribution and identified wastewater and greywater emissions as relevant sources. In June 2021, sub-surface water samples were continuously collected during steaming at a depth of 4 meters along five transects, spanning 1600 nautical miles from the Norwegian coast to Bear Island in the Arctic Ocean. MPs (>10 µm) were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared imaging micro-spectroscopy, revealing concentrations ranging from 7 to 491 items m⁻³. Elevated MP levels near the Norwegian coast (max 399 items m⁻³) were linked to discharges from wastewater discharges, including greywater from ships, with polyester dominating, followed by polypropylene and acrylates/polyurethanes/varnish. The highest concentrations were observed near the remote Bear Island, likely driven by oceanographic features such as the Polar Front and mesoscale eddies, which can trap and accumulate MPs. Our results were compared to a parallel study analyzing stationary samples from the same cruise, revealeing systematically higher MP concentrations in underway samples and highlighting the importance of sampling strategies for inter-study comparisons. Overall, this study underlines the complexity of MP distribution and the combined roles of wastewater and greywater emissions, ocean current patterns, and frontal zones in understanding MP pollution in marine environments. Wastewater discharges, including ship greywater, elevate microplastic concentrations near the Norwegian coast, while oceanographic features like the Polar Front and mesoscale eddies concentrate the highest levels near the remote Bear Islands, according to sub-surface water sample analysis.
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Researchers sampled sub-surface waters along a transect from the Bay of Biscay to Cape Town and found microplastics throughout the Atlantic Ocean, with the highest concentrations in the subtropical gyres. The study documents the latitudinal gradient of microplastic distribution in the Atlantic and identifies accumulation zones far from land.
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance across six major ocean current regions in the Atlantic Ocean, from the Netherlands to Uruguay, using 50 surface trawls. They found an overall concentration of 0.011 particles per cubic meter, with abundance significantly correlated to distance from the coast, and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene fragments being the dominant types. The study provides valuable baseline data from consistently under-sampled regions, particularly the South Atlantic.
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in surface waters during a transect voyage across the North and South Atlantic Ocean, finding particles at nearly all stations sampled. The results contribute to understanding the distribution and abundance of microplastics across the full latitudinal range of the Atlantic basin.
Pervasive distribution of polyester fibres in the Arctic Ocean is driven by Atlantic inputs
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Researchers documented the widespread distribution of microplastics across 71 stations in the European and North American Arctic, including the North Pole. The study found that polyester fibers comprised 73% of synthetic particles, with nearly three times more particles in the eastern Arctic compared to the west, suggesting that Atlantic Ocean currents and wastewater-derived textile fibers are a major source of microplastic contamination in this remote region.
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.