We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics quantification in surface waters of the Barents, Kara and White Seas
Summary
This study measured microplastic concentrations in the surface waters of the White, Barents, and Kara Seas in the Arctic, finding particularly high levels off the coast of Novaya Zemlya. The detection of microplastics in these remote Arctic waters confirms that ocean currents carry plastic pollution to polar regions far from the original sources.
This study is focused on the analysis of microplastic concentrations in the surface waters of the White, Barents and Kara Seas. Sampling took place during the "Arctic Floating University 2018" expedition using a manta trawl. Particularly high concentrations of the microplastics were found off the west coast of Novaya Zemlya archipelago with a maximum in a highly productive region - Gusinaya bank. The microplastic distribution pattern in the Barents Sea correlates both with the oceanic circulation and the fishing activities. The results show the first recorded estimation of microplastic concentrations in the White Sea with the higher concentrations located in the area affected by the Severnaya Dvina River discharge. Relatively low concentrations of microplastics were found in the Kara Sea.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Surface Waters of the Russian Arctic Seas: Distribution, Concentration, Identification, and Eco-Risks for Fish
Microplastics were detected across surface waters of the Russian Arctic seas, with concentrations and polymer types varying by region and season. The findings document that even high-latitude Arctic waters are not spared from microplastic contamination, likely transported by ocean currents and rivers.
Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples
Researchers reported some of the first measured values for microplastic particles in Arctic polar waters, finding contamination even in these remote high-latitude waters and raising questions about long-range transport mechanisms.
Study of microplastic pollution in the seas of the Russian Arctic and the Far East
This study investigated microplastic pollution in seas of the Russian Arctic and Far East, regions that have received less scientific attention. Despite their remoteness, microplastics were detected, raising concern about contamination of pristine polar ecosystems.
Microplastic contamination of marine environment of the Barents and Kara seas in 2019
This Russian-language study measured microplastic contamination in the Barents and Kara Seas in 2019, two Arctic ocean regions experiencing rapid environmental change. The findings document plastic pollution in these remote polar waters, which serve as important ecosystems for fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Microplastics in the Eurasian Arctic surface water: main sources and drivers of spatiotemporal variability
Researchers conducted the most extensive survey of floating microplastics in the Eurasian Arctic to date, collecting 220 surface water and 180 subsurface water samples across the Barents, Kara, Laptev, and East-Siberian seas during six cruises from 2019 to 2022. They found a strong west-to-east gradient in microplastic pollution, declining from 19.0 micrograms per cubic meter in the Barents Sea to 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter in the East-Siberian Sea, with the Kara Gate Strait showing the highest concentration at 640 micrograms per cubic meter, suggesting the Barents Sea as the primary source of microplastics in the Siberian Arctic.