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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

The Deposition and Accumulation of Microplastics in Marine Sediments and Bottom Water from the Irish Continental Shelf

Scientific Reports 2017 405 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.
Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Jake Martin, Amy Lusher Jake Martin, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Jake Martin, Jake Martin, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Audrey Morley, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Audrey Morley, Audrey Morley, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher Amy Lusher Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Amy Lusher

Summary

This study provided the first record of microplastic contamination in sediments on the Irish continental shelf, recovering plastic particles across nearly all sampled stations. The finding confirms that even relatively remote offshore sediments accumulate microplastic pollution, likely as a final sink for particles from the water column.

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics are widely dispersed throughout the marine environment. An understanding of the distribution and accumulation of this form of pollution is crucial for gauging environmental risk. Presented here is the first record of plastic contamination, in the 5 mm-250 μm size range, of Irish continental shelf sediments. Sixty-two microplastics were recovered from 10 of 11 stations using box cores. 97% of recovered microplastics were found to reside shallower than 2.5 cm sediment depth, with the area of highest microplastic concentration being the water-sediment interface and top 0.5 cm of sediments (66%). Microplastics were not found deeper than 3.5 ± 0.5 cm. These findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination is ubiquitous within superficial sediments and bottom water along the western Irish continental shelf. Results highlight that cores need to be at least 4-5 cm deep to quantify the standing stock of microplastics within marine sediments. All recovered microplastics were classified as secondary microplastics as they appear to be remnants of larger items; fibres being the principal form of microplastic pollution (85%), followed by broken fragments (15%). The range of polymer types, colours and physical forms recovered suggests a variety of sources. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms influencing microplastic transport, deposition, resuspension and subsequent interactions with biota.

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