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Investigation of the abundance, distribution and composition of microplastics at coastal upwelling sites in the Atlantic Ocean
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A study investigated the abundance, distribution, and chemical composition of microplastics in a marine environment, characterizing particle types, polymer identities, and spatial patterns. The findings contribute to understanding how microplastic contamination varies across different marine zones.
Microplastics are an issue of international concern due to the fact that these substances may potentially threaten biota by (i) causing physical harm, (ii) transporting persistent, bioaccumulating and toxic (PBT) substances and, (iii) leaching plastic additives. Within the world’s oceans, areas which experience coastal upwelling are biota rich due to their high levels of primary productivity. The assessment of microplastic presence in areas which experience coastal upwelling is vital as it will indicate whether microplastics are an issue of concern in areas which support key biological resources. The null hypothesis of the present study is that microplastic abundance will be lower in areas where there is upwelling. As such, the present study aims to investigate whether microplastic abundance in upwelled areas in the Atlantic Ocean is significantly different from non-upwelled areas. Based on an opportunistic voyage aboard the RV Polarstern, microplastics will be sampled in sub-surface waters along a diverse latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Ocean i.e. from Bremerhaven (Germany) to Cape Town (South Africa). Based on the proposed route, it will be possible to determine microplastic levels at two areas of coastal upwelling in the Atlantic Ocean (i) Canary Upwelling Ecosystem (CUE) and (ii) Benguela Upwelling Ecosystem (BUE). The results will then be analysed to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference between ‘upwelled areas’ and ‘non-upwelled areas’.
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Investigation of the abundance, distribution and composition of microplastics at coastal upwelling sites in the Atlantic Ocean
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic abundance, distribution, and polymer composition were investigated in a coastal upwelling region — a highly productive ocean zone — examining whether the concentrated marine life in these areas faces elevated microplastic exposure. The study finds microplastics present in the water column and associated biota, raising concern about contamination in these ecologically and commercially important ocean regions.
Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans
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This study examined the abundance, distribution, and polymer composition of microplastics across both the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, including in high-productivity upwelling zones that sustain major fisheries. The research shows that microplastics are present even in the most remote ocean regions, raising concerns about contamination of commercially important fish stocks.
Abundance, size and polymer composition of marine microplastics ≥ 10 μm in the Atlantic Ocean and their modelled vertical distribution
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Researchers measured the abundance, size distribution, and polymer composition of microplastics 10 micrometers and larger in the Atlantic Ocean, finding widespread contamination and providing data that helps fill gaps in understanding smaller particle fractions.
Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition along a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers sampled sub-surface waters along a transect from the Bay of Biscay to Cape Town and found microplastics throughout the Atlantic Ocean, with the highest concentrations in the subtropical gyres. The study documents the latitudinal gradient of microplastic distribution in the Atlantic and identifies accumulation zones far from land.
Abundance, distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the North and South Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance across six major ocean current regions in the Atlantic Ocean, from the Netherlands to Uruguay, using 50 surface trawls. They found an overall concentration of 0.011 particles per cubic meter, with abundance significantly correlated to distance from the coast, and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene fragments being the dominant types. The study provides valuable baseline data from consistently under-sampled regions, particularly the South Atlantic.
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