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Microplastic and environmental data from Arctic sea ice
Summary
Sea ice samples collected from multiple Arctic locations showed that microplastic polymer composition in sea ice is not uniform but varies with the growth region and drift history of the ice floe. The findings reveal that even remote Arctic sea ice reflects localized pollution sources through distinct microplastic signatures, raising concerns about the role of sea ice as a collector and transporter of microplastics.
Microplastics (MP) are recognized as a growing environmental hazard and have been identified as far as the remote Polar Regions, with particularly high concentrations of microplastics in sea ice. Little is known regarding the horizontal variability of MP within sea ice and how the underlying water body affects MP composition during sea ice growth. Here we show that sea ice MP has no uniform polymer composition and that, depending on the growth region and drift paths of the sea ice, unique MP patterns can be observed in different sea ice horizons. Thus even in remote regions such as the Arctic Ocean, certain MP indicate the presence of localized sources. Increasing exploitation of Arctic resources will likely lead to a higher MP load in the Arctic sea ice and will enhance the release of MP in the areas of strong seasonal sea ice melt and the outflow gateways.