Insight into the plastic pollution of the Falkland Islands – Understanding the microplastics' origins

Plastic pollution is a growing concern, as the fragmented parts of synthetic materials (namely, microplastics MPs and nanoplastics NPs) appear ubiquitous in the marine environment. Although many existing studies of MPs and NPs have examined the issue, not all mechanisms of polymers' fate, transport, degradation, and impact on biota have been clarified. Thus, within this research, the remote and relatively unbiased area, which is not heavily affected by the problem, was chosen to monitor the problem of microplastics at its very origin and better understand this phenomenon and the gradual development of MP pollution. Plastic macro fragments, visible within the naked eye survey, were collected in five sites within the Falklands: Saunders Island and East Falkland. One additional point chosen on West Falkland did not contain visible plastic particles. All samples were spectrally identified and characterized (by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR and ATR-FTIR methods). Ghost nets and tourists' littering were dominant local sources. The dominant types of polymers were PE and PP. Different levels of degradation were observed within the subsets of collected materials. In conclusion, one may better classify environmental plastic as a secondary source of microplastics, understand the origin of MPs' presence, and model the future situation on the archipelago. Finally, suggestions for mitigation strategies and research development in this area are provided.