Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Svalbard fjords: influence of hydrodynamics and local pollution sources

Researchers studied microplastic distribution in Svalbard fjords over three years (July 2021-2023) using both neuston net surface sampling and pump-based subsurface collection, examining the role of rivers, local populations, and hydrodynamics on microplastic fate in Arctic coastal waters. They found the highest concentrations in populated Adventfjorden, with peak levels of up to 71,400 items/km2 along the river plume boundary.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastic pollution in Arctic fjord water: a case study of Rijpfjorden, Northern Svalbard

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the remote Rijpfjorden fjord in Northern Svalbard, sampling both surface water and the water column down to 200 m, and found widespread microplastic presence even in this Arctic environment far from major pollution sources.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fate in Arctic coastal waters: accumulation hotspots and role of rivers in Svalbard

Microplastic sampling in Svalbard fjords found surface MPs concentrated along river plume borders in populated areas (up to 71,400 items/km²), while intense riverine discharge during summer flushed MPs away from unpopulated fjords, highlighting the dual role of rivers as both sources and transporters of Arctic microplastics.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the surface sediment of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Arctic

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in surface sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, documenting MP presence in this remote Arctic fjord and contributing to understanding of microplastic distribution in polar sediment compartments.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Floating microplastics in Svalbard fjords: High spatial variability requires methodological consistency in estuarine systems

This study quantified floating microplastics in fjords around Svalbard, finding high spatial variability that necessitates dense sampling strategies, with concentrations influenced by sea ice dynamics and ocean current patterns.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surface seawater of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Arctic

Researchers measured microplastic abundance, distribution, and characteristics in surface seawater of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, in the Arctic, collecting 18 samples with manta trawls. Microplastics were detected across all sites including the inner fjord, with fiber morphotypes dominant, confirming that even this remote Arctic fjord is contaminated by plastic particles transported via ocean currents and atmospheric deposition.

2024 Environmental Technology & Innovation 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples

Researchers reported some of the first measured values for microplastic particles in Arctic polar waters, finding contamination even in these remote high-latitude waters and raising questions about long-range transport mechanisms.

2015 Scientific Reports 1119 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and sources of microplastics on Arctic beaches: Svalbard

Researchers sampled four beach sites near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to assess microplastic contamination in the Arctic. They found microplastics at all sites, with higher concentrations closer to human settlements and wastewater discharge points. The study suggests that even remote Arctic beaches are receiving microplastic pollution, primarily from local sources rather than long-range ocean transport.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Summer sea ice melt and wastewater are important local sources of microlitter to Svalbard waters

Scientists sampled waters around Svalbard and found that seasonal melting of sea ice is a significant local source of microplastics, releasing particles accumulated over winter, while untreated wastewater discharge was another important local source in this Arctic environment.

2020 Environment International 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and sources of microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Svalbard, Arctic

Researchers found microplastics — exclusively in fiber form composed of polyester, rayon, and cellulose — in Arctic sediments from two Svalbard fjords, alongside polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, suggesting fisheries activity and textiles as primary pollution sources in this remote environment.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the surface sediments of Krossfjord-Kongsfjord system, Svalbard, Arctic

Researchers found microplastics in surface sediments of the Krossfjord-Kongsfjord system in the Svalbard Arctic, with average abundances of 721 and 783 pieces/kg respectively, dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene fibres. The spatial distribution suggested that fragmentation during transport contributes to the prevalence of smaller particles.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic particles in sediment from an Arctic fjord

Researchers developed two sampling designs to collect sediment subsamples from an Arctic fjord in Svalbard, finding anthropogenic particles including microplastics and dyed fibres, and contributing to the limited data on plastic contamination levels in Arctic environments.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Arctic: a transect through the Barents Sea

Researchers collected large-volume sub-surface water samples along transects through the Barents Sea to quantify and characterize microplastics, examining the role of regional ocean currents in concentrating plastic debris. The study contributes baseline data on microplastic distribution in this productive Arctic marginal sea mooted as a potential sixth ocean gyre for plastic accumulation.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 22 citations
Article Tier 2

The occurrence and sources of microplastics to Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches: human influence on local microplastic hotspots

Researchers characterized microplastic occurrence and sources at Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches, finding that proximity to human settlements creates local hotspots, while more remote beaches receive microplastics primarily through long-range oceanic transport.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and other anthropogenic particles in surface waters of the Isfjorden system (Svalbard)

Researchers investigated anthropogenic particles including microplastics in the surface waters of the Isfjorden system in Svalbard, where untreated wastewater from Longyearbyen is discharged into Adventfjorden, analyzing particle distribution and classification across inflowing and outflowing water currents.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Surface Waters of the Russian Arctic Seas: Distribution, Concentration, Identification, and Eco-Risks for Fish

Microplastics were detected across surface waters of the Russian Arctic seas, with concentrations and polymer types varying by region and season. The findings document that even high-latitude Arctic waters are not spared from microplastic contamination, likely transported by ocean currents and rivers.

2025 Journal of Ichthyology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Fiber Emissions From Wastewater Effluents: Abundance, Transport Behavior and Exposure Risk for Biota in an Arctic Fjord

Researchers investigated how microplastic fibers emitted from untreated wastewater in an Arctic settlement on Svalbard distribute through the nearby fjord environment. The study found elevated fiber concentrations near the effluent outfall that decreased with distance, and documented potential exposure risks for local marine biota including zooplankton and benthic organisms in this sensitive Arctic ecosystem.

2021 Frontiers in Environmental Science 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Sea ice and a wastewater outlet identified as hotspots for anthropogenic microlitter in Svalbard waters

Researchers identified Arctic sea ice and a wastewater outlet in Svalbard as hotspots for microplastic accumulation in Arctic waters. Sea ice acted as a temporary reservoir for plastic particles that were then released into the water column during melting, suggesting that Arctic ice could be an important, underappreciated source of microplastic contamination in polar seas.

2020 Environment International
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters

Surface water sampling around Iceland found mesoplastics and microplastics at all six coastal sites, with nearshore locations near populated areas showing higher concentrations, suggesting local human activity contributes to plastic pollution even in remote subarctic waters.

2022 Environments 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of small microplastics in the Norwegian Coastal Current

Researchers mapped microplastic concentrations at multiple depths along the Norwegian Coastal Current, a major pathway carrying pollutants toward the Arctic. They found that the smallest microplastics, those under 50 micrometers, made up over 80% of all detected particles and were found at concentrations up to four orders of magnitude higher than larger microplastics, underscoring the importance of measuring these very small particles in ocean monitoring.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors influencing the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics at the sea surface – A year-long monitoring case study from the urban Kiel Fjord, southwest Baltic Sea

Researchers conducted a year-long monthly survey of microplastic abundance at eight sites within and around Kiel Fjord in the Baltic Sea, finding an overall low and stable load of 0.04 particles per square meter compared to other urban coastal areas. No strong relationship was found between microplastic abundance and weather parameters, though unusually high counts consistently followed rainfall and snowmelt events linked to storm drain inputs.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal trends in microplastic pollution of surface waters of the Eurasian Arctic

Researchers conducted the most extensive survey to date of floating microplastics in the Eurasian Arctic Ocean, collecting 200 surface water samples across four Arctic seas over four years using standardized methods. The study provides a crucial baseline for tracking whether microplastic contamination in this remote and climate-sensitive ocean region is increasing over time, which matters because Arctic ecosystems are already under severe stress and microplastics can further harm the marine food web from plankton to Arctic wildlife.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Diving into the Depths: Uncovering Microplastics in Norwegian Coastal Sediment Cores

Researchers analyzed microplastic vertical distribution in sediment cores from five sites along the Norwegian coast extending to Arctic waters, filling a gap in high-resolution depth profile data for European and Arctic sediments. Microplastics were found throughout core depths with concentrations generally increasing toward the surface in patterns reflecting historical plastic production growth.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Estimation of plastic waste accumulation in the Arctic

Researchers analyzed sources, spatial distribution patterns, and mass transfer dynamics of plastic and microplastic pollution in the Arctic, proposing plastic waste management approaches and a community-based monitoring program to track microplastic accumulation across Arctic regions.

2025 Arctic and Innovations