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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.
Microplastics are increasingly recognized as ubiquitous global contaminants, but questions linger regarding their source, transport and fate. We document the widespread distribution of microplastics in near-surface seawater from 71 stations across the European and North American Arctic - including the North Pole. We also characterize samples to a depth of 1,015 m in the Beaufort Sea. Particle abundance correlated with longitude, with almost three times more particles in the eastern Arctic compared to the west. Polyester comprised 73% of total synthetic fibres, with an east-to-west shift in infra-red signatures pointing to a potential weathering of fibres away from source. Here we suggest that relatively fresh polyester fibres are delivered to the eastern Arctic Ocean, via Atlantic Ocean inputs and/or atmospheric transport from the South. This raises further questions about the global reach of textile fibres in domestic wastewater, with our findings pointing to their widespread distribution in this remote region of the world.
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Arctic threads: Microplastic fibres in Chukchi and Beaufort sea sediments
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Researchers collected sediment samples from the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in the Arctic and found microplastic fibers present at every sampling site. Synthetic fibers were the dominant type, likely originating from textiles and fishing activities transported by ocean currents. The study adds to growing evidence that even remote Arctic environments are not spared from microplastic contamination.
Long-range drift of microplastics towards the Arctic Ocean - discussions on the issue and observations along the North Atlantic current system
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This study examined the long-range transport of microplastics toward the Arctic Ocean via the North Atlantic current system, documenting plastic contamination in waters far from human population centers. The findings demonstrate that microplastics are now globally distributed, reaching polar regions through ocean circulation.
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.
Systematical insights into distribution and characteristics of microplastics in near-surface waters from the East Asian Seas to the Arctic Central Basin
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Researchers systematically mapped microplastic distribution in near-surface waters from the East Asian Seas to the Arctic Central Basin, detecting particles at 93.9% of sites with an average of 2.91 items/m3 and finding that fragments and fibers dominated across the entire transect.
Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans
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This study examined the abundance, distribution, and polymer composition of microplastics across both the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, including in high-productivity upwelling zones that sustain major fisheries. The research shows that microplastics are present even in the most remote ocean regions, raising concerns about contamination of commercially important fish stocks.
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.