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Prevalence of microplastic pollution in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Chemosphere 2019 45 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Zhong Pan, Sumin Wang, Hongzhe Chen, Hongzhe Chen, Hongzhe Chen, Zhong Pan, Zhong Pan, Zhong Pan, Zhong Pan, Zhong Pan, Huige Guo, Zhong Pan, Zhong Pan, Huige Guo, Xiuwu Sun, Xiuwu Sun, Sumin Wang, Zhong Pan, Sumin Wang, Hongzhe Chen, Xiuwu Sun, Xiuwu Sun, Zhong Pan, Hui Lin Zhong Pan, Hongzhe Chen, Hongzhe Chen, Hui Lin Huige Guo, Huige Guo, Huige Guo, Hui Lin Hui Lin Huige Guo, Hui Lin Xiuwu Sun, Sumin Wang, Xiuwu Sun, Hongzhe Chen, Shangzhan Cai, Hui Lin Hui Lin Zhong Pan, Xiuwu Sun, Sumin Wang, Xiuwu Sun, Shangzhan Cai, Hongzhe Chen, Xiuwu Sun, Hui Lin Xiuwu Sun, Xiuwu Sun, Hui Lin Hui Lin Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Jiang Huang, Xiuwu Sun, Xiuwu Sun, Xiuwu Sun, Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Hui Lin Hui Lin Hui Lin Hui Lin Zhong Pan, Hongzhe Chen, Hui Lin Zhong Pan, Sumin Wang, Shangzhan Cai, Shangzhan Cai, Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Yuanbiao Zhang, Zhong Pan, Hui Lin Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Zhong Pan, Huige Guo, Zhong Pan, Hongzhe Chen, Hui Lin Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Hui Lin Zhong Pan, Shangzhan Cai, Jiang Huang, Shangzhan Cai, Hui Lin Jiang Huang, Hui Lin Yuanbiao Zhang, Zhong Pan, Hui Lin

Summary

Researchers conducted the first systematic field survey of microplastic pollution at the surface of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, finding concentrations spanning two orders of magnitude and identifying polyethylene as the dominant polymer type, with the highest concentrations associated with convergence zones shaped by the Kuroshio Current and adjacent eddies.

People are increasingly aware of ubiquitous microplastic (MP) pollution in the world's ocean due to its far-reaching harmful impacts on marine ecosystem and potential hazards to human health, yet surprisingly comparatively limited studies about the abundance, source, transport, and fate of MPs in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean are available. We conducted the field survey of MPs pollution at the surface of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean between August 25 and September 26, 2017. MPs were collected from 18 sampling stations in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean using a manta trawl net with a mesh size of ∼330 μm and a rectangular net opening of 0.45 × 1 m. The abundance, shape, color, size, chemical composition, and surface morphology were characterized using light microscopy, μ-Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show surface MPs at concentrations ranging over two orders of magnitude (6.4 × 10 to 4.2 × 10 particles km) and a mean abundance of 1.0 × 10 particles km. The most concentrated MPs were found at XTJ3-9, which may be associated with the convergence of surface currents collectively affected by the Kuroshio and its extension, adjacent eddies, and flow regimes. Polyethylene accounts for 57.8% of enumerated MPs, followed by polypropylene (36.0%) and nylon (3.4%). Pellets, sheets, lines, and films are major forms which may be linked to the breakdown of larger particles, aging processes, and movement over long distances by prevailing currents. Four possible MPs migration pathways were proposed based on the source-specific distribution, chemical fingerprints, size distribution patterns, and the observed physical oceanographic parameters.

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