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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Citizen scientists reveal small but concentrated amounts of fragmented microplastic on Arctic beaches
ClearWhere does Arctic beach debris come from? Analyzing debris composition and provenance on Svalbard aided by citizen scientists
Citizen scientists helped researchers collect and analyze marine debris on beaches in Svalbard, a remote Arctic archipelago. By examining the composition and origin of the debris, the team identified both local sources and evidence of long-distance oceanic transport bringing plastic waste to the Arctic. The study demonstrates how citizen science can expand data collection in remote regions and improve our understanding of how plastic pollution reaches even the most isolated environments.
Citizen scientists reveal: Marine litter pollutes Arctic beaches and affects wild life
Citizen scientists surveying beaches on the remote Arctic island of Svalbard found plastic litter densities comparable to heavily populated coastal areas, with over 80% of the litter being plastic and most traceable to the fishing industry. The study demonstrates both the reach of plastic pollution into remote polar ecosystems and the value of citizen science for environmental monitoring.
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.
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.
Arctic Plastic Coasts: 7 years investigating beach litter in the Arctic through citizen science
Researchers conducted a seven-year citizen science survey of beach litter across Arctic coastlines from Jan Mayen to Svalbard and Greenland, finding that marine litter on Svalbard and Jan Mayen is dominated by material from oceanic fisheries while Greenland's plastic pollution is primarily from local sources.
Arctic Plastic Coasts: 7 years investigating beach litter in the Arctic through citizen science
Researchers conducted a seven-year citizen science survey of beach litter across Arctic coastlines from Jan Mayen to Svalbard and Greenland, finding that marine litter on Svalbard and Jan Mayen is dominated by material from oceanic fisheries while Greenland's plastic pollution is primarily from local sources.
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.
Combining citizen and conventional science for microplastics monitoring in the White Sea basin (Russian Arctic)
Researchers combined citizen science volunteers with conventional scientific methods to document microplastic contamination across 13 remote locations in the White Sea basin of the Russian Arctic, finding plastic particles primarily composed of PE, PET, and PVC at average concentrations of 1.14 particles/m.
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.
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.
Marine Microplastics in Polar Region—a Spitsbergen Case Study
Researchers detected both primary and secondary microplastics in waters around Svalbard (Spitsbergen) in the Arctic during a 2017 expedition. The findings confirm that microplastic pollution has reached even remote polar regions, raising concerns about contamination of Arctic ecosystems.
Citizen science in studying the microplastic pollution of the Russian Arctic
Researchers conducted a long-term citizen science study (2020-2022) on microplastic pollution across Russian Arctic seas, presenting methodological approaches for sample collection and laboratory isolation of microplastic particles from environmental samples. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration between public organisations and scientific institutes, and identified the role of the North Cape Current in transporting microplastics from the North Atlantic into the Russian Barents Sea.
Anthropogenic particles (including microfibers and microplastics) in marine sediments of the Canadian Arctic
Researchers conducted the first Arctic-wide Canadian survey of anthropogenic particles in marine sediments, finding microfibers and microplastics at all 14 sampled sites including remote locations, with synthetic fibers far outnumbering hard plastic fragments and concentrations increasing near shipping routes.
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.
Litter and Microplastics: Environmental monitoring in the Arctic
This study describes a monitoring program for plastic litter and microplastics in Arctic environments, combining beach surveys with water sampling across Norwegian Arctic sites. Even in remote polar regions far from major population centers, significant and increasing plastic pollution was found, highlighting the global reach of this environmental problem.
Abundance and composition of near surface microplastics and plastic debris in the Stockholm Archipelago, Baltic Sea
This study combined professional manta trawl sampling and citizen science transect surveys to characterize microplastic abundance and composition in the Stockholm Archipelago and Baltic Sea. The results provide baseline data on plastic contamination in Baltic surface waters and demonstrate that citizen science can complement formal monitoring efforts.
Validating citizen science for community-driven microplastic monitoring and marine protection in Northeast Iceland's Hope Spot
Researchers ran a 5-year citizen science program (2019–2023) in Northeast Iceland's Hope Spot using low-tech sampling devices aboard whale-watching and expedition vessels to monitor meso- and microplastic pollution. MPs were present in 86% of trawl samples at an average density of 0.02 particles/m², validating citizen science as a viable tool for monitoring MP pollution in under-sampled Arctic waters.
A first assessment of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Hudson Bay and the surrounding eastern Canadian Arctic waters of Nunavut
Scientists collected surface water, zooplankton, sediment, and snow samples from Hudson Bay to northern Baffin Island and found microplastics in all sample types, providing the first comprehensive assessment of microplastic contamination across this broad eastern Canadian Arctic region.
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.
The baseline for micro- and mesoplastic pollution in open Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga beach
Researchers established a baseline for microplastic and mesoplastic pollution along 24 beaches on the Latvian coastline of the Baltic Sea, using data collected with the help of up to 250 citizen science volunteers. They found that beaches on the open Baltic Sea contained more plastic particles than those in the semi-enclosed Gulf of Riga. The study analyzed wave patterns, currents, and tourism intensity as factors driving pollution distribution and highlights citizen science as a valuable tool for large-scale microplastic monitoring.
Using a Citizen Science Approach to Assess Nanoplastics Pollution in Remote High-Altitude Glaciers
Citizen scientists collected samples from remote high-altitude glaciers and researchers analyzed them for nanoplastics, finding nanoplastic particles even in these pristine environments and demonstrating that citizen science can extend the spatial reach of nanoplastic pollution monitoring.
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.
Microplastic pellets in Arctic marine sediments: a common source or a common process?
Researchers examined microplastic pellet contamination in Arctic marine sediments to understand whether their presence reflects common sources or shared degradation processes. The study found that microplastics are accumulating on the Arctic seafloor, contributing to growing evidence that plastic pollution reaches even the most remote ocean environments.
Characteristics and quantification of small microplastics (<100 µm) in seasonal svalbard snow on glaciers and lands
Researchers found tiny microplastic particles (smaller than 100 micrometers) in snow samples from Arctic glaciers and tundra in Svalbard, Norway. The amounts were lower on remote glaciers and higher near the research settlement, showing that these particles travel long distances through the air but also come from nearby human activity. This highlights how microplastic pollution reaches even the most isolated places on Earth.