We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Seaweed as a Carrier for Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether seaweed stranded on beaches in St. Kitts and Nevis serves as a vector for microplastic transport and deposition in coastal environments. They stained and quantified microplastic particles associated with collected seaweed samples, finding that seaweed acts as a carrier that concentrates plastic fragments from the ocean onto shorelines. The study contributes to understanding how natural floating biomass facilitates microplastic accumulation in coastal zones.
Analysis of seaweed as a vector for microplastics is an integral part of understanding the formation and deposition of micro-sized plastic waste in seawater. The project itself originated due to the influx of seaweed (and mismanaged plastic waste) residing on the shores of St. Kitts and Nevis and the constant deposition of plastic pollution intertwined within the seaweed. The natural occurrence of the two together lead to the consideration of fragmented plastics remaining on the seaweed. The objective of this research is to stain, identify, and quantify the concentration of microplastics sourced from both store-bought and environmental seaweed samples. A Nile red solution dissolved in either acetone or methanol was used to stain the microplastics, as per a proven method. The fluorescence of the stained microplastics was measured (excitation: 523-543 nm and emission: 580-640 nm) to identify potential dissolution. The seaweed was washed of microplastics and the solid particles collected were evaluated using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The fluorescence and infrared spectrum results were compared to spectra within the Spectral data base system (SDBS) for the most common plastics: polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC). The use of a fluorescence microscope allowed for direct quantification of microplastics over a specific area of the sample and therefore allowed for further identification of microplastic presence.
More Papers Like This
Pelagic Sargassum as a Potential Vector for Microplastics into Coastal Ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This research assessed microplastics entrapped within pelagic Sargassum seaweed collected from the Mexican Caribbean coast. The study suggests that Sargassum mats act as vectors transporting microplastics from the open ocean to coastal ecosystems, amplifying plastic pollution in affected shoreline environments across more than 30 nations.
Experimental evaluation of seaweeds as a vector for microplastics into marine food webs, supplementary material
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments showed that the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus retains microplastics on its surface, and that the common periwinkle Littorina littorea ingests microplastics when grazing on contaminated seaweed. This work identifies seaweeds as a previously overlooked pathway for microplastic transfer into benthic food webs.
Experimental Evaluation of Seaweeds as a Vector for Microplastics into Marine Food Webs
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that microplastics can adhere to the surface of seaweed and be ingested by the common periwinkle when it feeds on the seaweed. This previously overlooked pathway — plastic transfer via algal feeding — may explain how benthic grazers that don't feed directly in the water column are exposed to microplastic contamination.
Marine macrophytes retain microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that marine macrophytes such as seagrass and algae retain microplastics within their structures and accumulate them in surrounding sediments, acting as an underrecognized biological sink for plastic particles. This study highlights coastal vegetation as both a trapping mechanism and an indicator of local microplastic contamination.
Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how seagrass beds trap microplastics and other anthropogenic particles by sampling along a vegetation cover gradient from dense beds to less vegetated patches. The study found that seagrass vegetation enhances the accumulation of plastic debris in both sediment and among plant structures. Evidence indicates that seagrass ecosystems act as significant sinks for microplastic pollution, with implications for the organisms that depend on these habitats.
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.