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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula
ClearOccurrence of microplastics in Antarctic fishes: Abundance, size, shape, and polymer composition
Researchers examined four species of Antarctic fish and found microplastics in all of them, with fibers being the most common shape and polypropylene, polyamide, and polyethylene the most common types. Even in one of the most remote regions on Earth, fish are ingesting plastic particles that come from common household materials. This study demonstrates that microplastic contamination has reached every corner of the planet's oceans.
Distribution characteristics of microplastics in surface and subsurface Antarctic seawater
Researchers characterized microplastic distribution in both surface and subsurface Antarctic seawater, finding plastic contamination present at multiple depths and dominated by fibers and fragments, highlighting that even remote polar waters are affected by plastic pollution.
Microplastics in Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) from Antarctic region
Researchers examined Antarctic krill from two regions of the Southern Ocean and found microplastics in these ecologically critical organisms. The most common particles were fibers, and the polymer types included polyethylene and polyester. Since Antarctic krill are a foundational species in the polar food web, their contamination with microplastics has implications for the broader Antarctic marine ecosystem.
Microplastics in two fish species from Prydz Bay and King George Island: Occurrence, characteristics and risk assessment
Researchers collected two species of fish from Antarctic coastal waters and found microplastics in 75–88% of individuals, with fibers dominating and rayon being the most common polymer type — a synthetic material used in clothing. Microplastics were more abundant in gill tissue than in the digestive tract, suggesting inhalation-like uptake through the gills is a significant exposure pathway, and fish near King George Island showed higher contamination and higher polymer hazard scores than those from Prydz Bay. The findings demonstrate that plastic pollution has reached even the remote Antarctic marine food web.
Multi-specific assessment of microplastic ingestion by Antarctic fish from the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean)
Researchers examined 145 fish from seven species in Antarctica's Ross Sea and found microplastic contamination in about one-third of all individuals, including three species never previously tested. The study, one of the largest assessments of microplastic ingestion by Antarctic fish to date, found contamination across multiple important ecological locations. The findings demonstrate that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.
Plastic occurrence, sources, and impacts in Antarctic environment and biota
Researchers reviewed evidence of plastic pollution in Antarctica, finding microplastics — mostly fibers — in sea ice, ocean water, sediments, and both marine and land animals, raising concern that even the most remote ecosystems on Earth are contaminated and that biodiversity and ecosystem functions may be at risk.
Microplastic ingestion in five demersal, bathydemersal and bathypelagic fish species from the eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica
Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in five fish species from the eastern Weddell Sea in Antarctica, a remote region proposed for conservation. By analyzing the gastrointestinal tracts of 40 specimens, they found evidence of microplastic contamination even in this isolated ecosystem. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most remote marine environments on Earth, raising concerns for species that may be particularly sensitive to environmental changes.
Cellulosic and microplastic fibers in the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis
Researchers found microfibers in the digestive tracts of 89 percent of Antarctic fish and 73 percent of sub-Antarctic fish examined. While most fibers were cellulose from clothing, synthetic microplastics including polyester and acrylics were also present. The study points to laundry wastewater from research stations as a major source of fiber pollution in Antarctic waters, showing that human activity contaminates even the most remote marine food webs.
First Evidence of Microplastic Contamination in Antarctic Fish (Actinopterygii, Perciformes)
This study provides the first evidence of microplastic contamination in Antarctic fish, finding moderate levels of microplastics in species from the Amundsen and Ross Seas with differences in polymer type and size linked to regional human activities.
Quantifying microplastics concentration of invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords
Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords created by retreating glaciers. They found microplastics present in organisms even in these remote polar environments, with contamination levels varying between species and locations. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth.
Monitoring of anthropogenic microplastic pollution in antarctic fish (emerald rockcod) from the Terranova Bay after a quarter of century
Scientists analyzed 78 emerald rockcod fish caught in Antarctica's Ross Sea and compared their microplastic contamination to fish from the same area sampled 25 years earlier. They found a shift toward more synthetic fibers and different polymer types, reflecting increased human activity in the region over the past two decades. The study shows that even Antarctica's wildlife is accumulating more microplastics over time, underlining the global reach of plastic pollution.
Occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and its impact on the health of organisms
This review summarizes existing research on microplastic pollution in Antarctica, covering how these tiny plastic particles reach even the most remote environments through fishing, tourism, and ocean currents. Despite Antarctica being considered pristine, microplastics have been found in both water and sediment across the region. The findings highlight that no place on Earth is free from microplastic contamination, raising concerns about effects on wildlife and ecosystems that are connected to global food chains.
Microplastic Pollution in Penguins from Antarctic Peninsula
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in penguins from the Antarctic Peninsula, examining the presence and characteristics of plastic particles in these seabirds as indicators of contamination in one of the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.
A novel report on the distribution of microplastics in ocellated icefish (Chionodraco rastrospinosus) in the northern Antarctic Peninsula
This is the first study to detect microplastics in the stomach, intestines, and gills of the ocellated icefish (Chionodraco rastrospinosus), a species found only in the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Finding microplastics in this remote and specialized species — with polyester and acrylic fibers as the dominant types — confirms that plastic pollution has penetrated even highly isolated polar food webs.
Microplastics in Antarctic krill from the Antarctic Peninsula: distribution, composition, and exposure
Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics inside Antarctic krill, the small shrimp-like creatures that many ocean animals eat. The plastic pollution was widespread across different areas of Antarctica, with larger krill containing more plastic particles than smaller ones. This matters because krill are a key food source in ocean food chains, meaning these plastics could work their way up to fish and other seafood that humans eventually eat.
Detection of plastic, cellulosic micro-fragments and microfibers in Laternula elliptica from King George Island (Maritime Antarctica)
Researchers found plastic and cellulose microfibers in every single clam sampled near research stations in Antarctica, with an average of 43 particles per individual. The plastic types identified included PET, acrylic, and polyethylene, likely originating from research station wastewater, fishing gear, and tourism. The finding that microplastic contamination has reached even remote Antarctic marine organisms underscores how pervasive this pollution has become worldwide.
Occurrence of Microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and Its Impact on the Health of Organisms
This review compiled recent findings on microplastic occurrence in Antarctica in both water and sediment, finding that tourism, fishing, and research activities have introduced MPs to this previously considered pristine environment with documented impacts on Antarctic organisms.
Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research
This paper reviewed microplastics research in the Antarctic marine system, identifying it as an emerging research area and documenting the first evidence of microplastic contamination in this remote polar environment.
Investigating the effects of microplastics on the metabolism of Trematomus bernacchii from the ross sea (Antarctica)
Scientists examined Antarctic fish (Trematomus bernacchii) from the Ross Sea and found microplastic fibers in 70% of specimens, showing that even the most remote ecosystems are contaminated. While the microplastics did not dramatically change the overall fat composition of the fish, the study documented that plastic pollution has reached wildlife in pristine Antarctic waters. This is concerning because it demonstrates the truly global scale of microplastic contamination throughout the food web.
Microplastics in the Arctic: A case study with sub-surface water and fish samples off Northeast Greenland
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in sub-surface water and two mid-trophic level fish species off Northeast Greenland, finding synthetic particles in both water samples and fish stomachs. The study demonstrates that even remote Arctic ecosystems are not free from microplastic pollution, with fibers being the most commonly detected particle type.
Anthropogenic debris in three sympatric seal species of the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in three seal species inhabiting the Western Antarctic Peninsula: crabeater, leopard, and Weddell seals. The study confirmed the presence of anthropogenic debris in these Antarctic marine mammals, demonstrating that microplastic pollution has reached even remote polar ecosystems and their wildlife.
Microplastics in Antarctic penguins and seals in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica
Analysis of fresh scats from penguins and seals at King George Island, Antarctica found microplastics in approximately 30% of samples, including fibers and fragments of polyester and polypropylene, confirming microplastic ingestion by top predators in one of Earth's most remote ecosystems.
High Abundances of Microplastic Pollution in Deep-Sea Sediments: Evidence from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
Microplastic pollution was investigated in deep-sea sediments from Antarctic and Southern Ocean regions, finding high abundances that varied among sites. The study confirmed that microplastics are accumulating in the remote Antarctic deep-sea environment, with evidence going back to scientific literature from the 1980s that has accelerated in recent years.
The transport and fate of microplastic fibres in the Antarctic: The role of multiple global processes
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across air, seawater, and sediment samples in the Antarctic Weddell Sea and identified 47 distinct microplastic categories, predominantly fibers. The overlap of fiber types across different sample media suggests that microplastics reach Antarctica through multiple transportation pathways, including atmospheric and oceanic currents. The study demonstrates that even one of the most remote regions on Earth is affected by diffuse microplastic pollution from global sources.