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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. Sign in to save

Microplastic contamination in east Antarctic sea ice

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020 316 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.
Anna Kelly, Anna Kelly, Anna Kelly, Delphine Lannuzel, HJ Auman, Anna Kelly, Thomas Rodemann, Delphine Lannuzel, Klaus M Meiners Thomas Rodemann, Klaus M Meiners Thomas Rodemann, Thomas Rodemann, Klaus M Meiners Thomas Rodemann, Thomas Rodemann, Thomas Rodemann, Klaus M Meiners Delphine Lannuzel, Thomas Rodemann, Thomas Rodemann, HJ Auman, Klaus M Meiners Thomas Rodemann, HJ Auman, Delphine Lannuzel, HJ Auman, Delphine Lannuzel, Delphine Lannuzel, Delphine Lannuzel, Klaus M Meiners

Summary

Researchers analyzed an ice core from East Antarctic land-fast sea ice using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, finding 96 microplastic particles dominated by polyester and polypropylene, providing direct evidence that microplastics are incorporated into Antarctic sea ice.

Polymers
PA PE PP
Study Type Environmental

The durability of plastics in the marine environment has led to concerns regarding the pervasiveness of this debris in remote polar habitats. Microplastic (MP) enrichment in East Antarctic sea ice was measured in one ice core sampled from coastal land-fast sea ice. The core was processed and filtered material was analyzed using micro Fourier-Transform Infrared (μFTIR) spectroscopy. 96 MP particles were identified, averaging 11.71 particles L. The most common MP polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide) were consistent with those most frequently represented in the majority of marine MP studies. Sea-ice MP concentrations were positively related with chlorophyll a, suggesting living biomass could assist in incorporating MPs in sea ice. Our preliminary results indicate that sea ice has the potential to serve as a reservoir for MP debris in the Southern Ocean, which may have consequences for Southern Ocean food webs and biogeochemistry.

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