We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Prevalence and Distribution of Microplastics on Two Barrier Islands in Georgia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic prevalence in water and sediment samples from two Georgia barrier islands with contrasting levels of human development, with preliminary results from the more pristine island already showing microfibers and microparticles, particularly concentrated in beach habitats.
The world today is heavily dependent on plastic. Because of its many desirable characteristics such as malleability, durability, light weight, ease of production and acquisition, it is a very convenient material for packaging, storage, and many other activities. Its main advantage over other materials is its durability and resistance to decomposition. Unfortunately, these two same characteristics are the reasons why it has become a major pollutant of concern in the environment. Plastics of different sizes (including microplastics) are wreaking havoc on global ecosystems, especially aquatic environments. The goal of this project is to assess the prevalence of microplastics in aquatic systems of two barrier islands with contrasting human activities in Georgia. One barrier island, Tybee, is well developed and has significant human activity while the other island, Sapelo, remains relatively undeveloped and is protected by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Water and soil samples were collected from a variety of surface water bodies on both islands. Samples were collected in 500 mL capped sample bottles that were kept on ice and transported to the lab. A hand auger was used to collect sediments at the water-soil interface in aquatic system samples. Water samples were vacuum filtered through a 35-micron filter paper to collect suspended particles. 50 g of collected sediments were mixed with an equal volume of distilled water and thoroughly mixed by hand-shaking for one minute. Heavy particles were allowed to settle out while the light particles were filtered out in the same manner as the water samples. The filter papers were analyzed for microplastics under dissecting microscopes at 10x and 40x magnification. Using an online manual, all microplastics were identified and recorded. Preliminary results from Sapelo island show the presence of microplastic in the form of both micro-filaments and micro-particles. There was relatively more microplastics in beach samples than any other habitat. Further analyses are being carried out to include more habitats and compare the results from the two islands.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic Deposition on St. Catherines Island, Georgia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected sediment samples from beach, marsh, and washover fan environments on a Georgia barrier island and found microplastics at every location and depth tested, with fibers being the most common type, indicating that plastic contamination has penetrated deeply into even relatively undeveloped coastal ecosystems.
Evaluation of Microplastics in Beach Sands on Isle of Man
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination in beach sands on the Isle of Man, finding plastic particles capable of releasing harmful chemicals into coastal environments. Beach contamination is significant because it indicates ongoing fragmentation of larger plastics and potential exposure pathways for coastal communities and marine life.
Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risks of microplastics in the offshore environment: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers review the sources, distribution, and ecological risks of microplastics across offshore marine environments, identifying polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as dominant polymer types and highlighting how MPs adsorb hazardous co-contaminants that amplify bioaccumulation and endocrine disruption risks through marine food webs.
A Scientific Approach to the Occurrence, Isolation, and Characterization of Existing Microplastic Pollution in the Marine Environment—a Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review systematically covers the sources, types, sampling techniques, and characterization methods for marine microplastics, detailing how FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analysis are used to identify and quantify these particles. Understanding these standardized methodologies is foundational for assessing how microplastics accumulate in marine food chains and ultimately reach human consumers.
The abundance, characteristics and diversity of microplastics in the South China Sea: Observation around three remote islands
AI summary Read the abstract
Floating microplastics in the South China Sea around three remote islands reached median concentrations of 1.9×10⁵ items/km², with polypropylene dominating and transparent films comprising the majority — pointing to household and agricultural plastic consumption as primary sources. Fish and mollusks in these waters were also found to have ingested microplastics, confirming active bioaccumulation in marine food webs of a region surrounded by high-plastic-use emerging markets.
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.