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Incidence and identification of microfibers in ocean waters in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica
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Zooplankton samples from five sites in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica collected during the 2010–2011 austral summer were analyzed for microfibers, finding an average of 2.40 microfibers per 100 m³ with blue, red, black, and clear fibers ranging from 10–22 μm in diameter. The study establishes the presence of synthetic microfibers in Antarctic zooplankton sampling zones, confirming contamination of this remote polar marine environment.
Antarctic pristine environment is threatened by the presence of microplastics that occur in a variety of shapes and sizes, from fibers to irregular fragments. The aim of this study is to assess the abundance, distribution, and the characterization of the microfibers in zooplankton samples found in ocean waters in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. The samples were collected at five points in Admiralty Bay during the XXIX Brazilian Antarctic Expedition in the austral summer of 2010-2011. A total of 603 microfibers were collected in 60 samples, with an average abundance of 2.40 (± 4.57) microfibers 100 m. Microfiber size ranging from ca. 10 to 22 μm in diameter of various lengths and colors (blue, red, black, and clear) was collected and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Most of these microfibers were entangled in various different zooplankton species and were identified as polymers composed mostly by polyethyleneglycols, polyurethanes, polyethylene terephthalates, and polyamides. The presence of such microfibers may cause the loss of biodiversity in the Antarctic continent, and the results presented herein can contribute to a better understanding of the impact caused by them within the food chain and human health. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
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Researchers detected anthropogenic microfibres in sediment trap samples collected at 25 m depth in an Antarctic fjord (Potter Cove) from 2012 to 2015, with estimated fluxes ranging from 115 to over 152,000 microfibres per m2, including semi-synthetic cellulosic and polyacrylonitrile polymers confirmed by FTIR. The study suggests Antarctic microfibre contamination may be substantially underestimated, characterizing the findings as 'the tip of an iceberg.'
Cellulosic and microplastic fibers in the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis
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Researchers found microfibers in the digestive tracts of 89 percent of Antarctic fish and 73 percent of sub-Antarctic fish examined. While most fibers were cellulose from clothing, synthetic microplastics including polyester and acrylics were also present. The study points to laundry wastewater from research stations as a major source of fiber pollution in Antarctic waters, showing that human activity contaminates even the most remote marine food webs.
Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 15 species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic krill collected near the Antarctic Peninsula. They found microplastics in all species studied, with fish accumulating significantly more particles than krill, and fibers being the most common type. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.
Quantification and distribution of marine microdebris in the surface waters of Livingston Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica).
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Researchers quantified microdebris in surface waters of two bays on Livingston Island, Antarctica, finding plastic pollution in all samples at a mean concentration of 0.264 items/m², with polyester fibres dominating (61.67%) and distribution patterns suggesting local Antarctic activities as the primary contamination source.
Microplastics in two fish species from Prydz Bay and King George Island: Occurrence, characteristics and risk assessment
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Researchers collected two species of fish from Antarctic coastal waters and found microplastics in 75–88% of individuals, with fibers dominating and rayon being the most common polymer type — a synthetic material used in clothing. Microplastics were more abundant in gill tissue than in the digestive tract, suggesting inhalation-like uptake through the gills is a significant exposure pathway, and fish near King George Island showed higher contamination and higher polymer hazard scores than those from Prydz Bay. The findings demonstrate that plastic pollution has reached even the remote Antarctic marine food web.
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