Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Human Health Effects Sign in to save

Microplastic load and polymer type composition in European rocky intertidal snails: Consistency across locations, wave exposure and years

Environmental Pollution 2021 27 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Julius A. Ellrich, Julius A. Ellrich, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Julius A. Ellrich, Julius A. Ellrich, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Julius A. Ellrich, Julius A. Ellrich, Julius A. Ellrich, Sonja M. Ehlers, Julius A. Ellrich, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Julius A. Ellrich, Jochen H. E. Koop, Sonja M. Ehlers, Jochen H. E. Koop, Sonja M. Ehlers, Jochen H. E. Koop, Sonja M. Ehlers, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop Julius A. Ellrich, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Jochen H. E. Koop, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Sonja M. Ehlers, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop Jochen H. E. Koop, Jochen H. E. Koop

Summary

Researchers examined microplastic loads in rocky intertidal snails across four European locations, finding consistent polymer type compositions and ingestion patterns regardless of geographic location, wave exposure, or sampling year.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (<5 mm) are emerging pollutants in oceans worldwide. As such small particles are easily ingested, microplastics are found in numerous pelagic and benthic organisms. However, information on microplastics in rocky intertidal organisms and habitats is relatively scant. Therefore, we examined snails and water samples from wave-sheltered and wave-exposed rocky intertidal habitats in Helgoland (North Sea), Cap Ferrat and Giglio (Mediterranean) and Madeira (Atlantic Ocean) in 2019-2020 for microplastics. Furthermore, we examined snails from the same habitats in Helgoland, Cap Ferrat and Giglio in 2007-2009. In total, we performed 362 individual micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR) measurements on the snails and water samples. While the snails contained 50 microplastics (composed of nine polymer types), the water samples contained 24 microplastics (comprising six polymer types). Microplastic load and polymer type composition in the snails were rather similar across locations, wave exposure and years. Also, microplastic load and polymer composition in the water samples were similar across locations and wave exposure. Moreover, snail and water microplastic loads were significantly correlated which indicates that snails are useful bioindicators for microplastic loads in rocky intertidal habitats. Interestingly, the majority of the microplastics consisted of paint chips that likely derived from ships. Overall, our study provides the first comprehensive microplastic record in rocky intertidal organisms across locations, wave exposure and years that can serve as a baseline to examine historic and future microplastic dynamics in rocky intertidal systems.

Read via DOI PubMed

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email