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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

Microplastics in the Southern Ocean

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2016 407 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Atsuhiko Isobe, Kaori Uchiyama-Matsumoto, Keiichi Uchida, Tadashi Tokai

Summary

Net tow surveys in the Southern Ocean in 2016 found 44 plastic pieces at five stations, confirming that microplastics reach even the remote Antarctic waters. The study computed total particle counts for the entire water column, providing a more complete estimate of microplastic burden than surface-only sampling.

Study Type Environmental

A field survey to collect microplastics with sizes <5mm was conducted in the Southern Ocean in 2016. We performed five net-tows and collected 44 pieces of plastic. Total particle counts of the entire water column, which is free of vertical mixing, were computed using the surface concentration (particle count per unit seawater volume) of microplastics, wind speed, and significant wave height during the observation period. Total particle counts at two stations near Antarctica were estimated to be in the order of 100,000pieceskm-2.

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