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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Journey to the deep: plastic pollution in the hadal of deep-sea trenches.
ClearSystematic identification of microplastics in abyssal and hadal sediments of the Kuril Kamchatka trench
Researchers systematically identified and characterised microplastics in abyssal and hadal sediment samples from the Kuril Kamchatka Trench in the North Pacific, one of the deepest ocean regions. They confirmed microplastic accumulation in this remote trench environment, consistent with the hypothesis that deep trenches serve as ultimate sinks for marine plastic debris transported by strong regional currents.
Human footprints at hadal depths: interlayer and intralayer comparison of sediment cores from the Kuril Kamchatka trench
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and found microplastic pollution at hadal depths exceeding 8,000 meters, with both interlayer and intralayer comparisons confirming that human-made plastic contamination has reached the deepest ocean environments.
The ocean’s ultimate trashcan: Hadal trenches as major depositories for plastic pollution
Analysis of hadal trenches - the deepest points in the ocean - found them to be major accumulation zones for microplastics and plastic debris, with concentrations higher than many surface ocean regions. This reveals that plastic pollution has reached the most remote and extreme environments on Earth, transported by deep-sea currents to ultimate depositional sinks.
Microplastics and synthetic particles ingested by deep-sea amphipods in six of the deepest marine ecosystems on Earth
Amphipod crustaceans from six of the deepest Pacific ocean trenches (7,000–10,890 m depth) were examined for microplastic ingestion, with over 72% of the 90 individuals containing at least one microparticle, including fibers, films, and fragments of polyethylene terephthalate and nylon. The study provides the first evidence that microplastic contamination reaches the deepest inhabited parts of the world's oceans.
Microplastics contaminate the deepest part of the world’s ocean
Microplastic concentrations were measured in bottom water and sediments of the Mariana Trench, finding hadal bottom water concentrations of 2.06–13.51 pieces/L—several times higher than open ocean subsurface water—and sediment concentrations of 200–2,200 pieces/L. The study provides the first evidence that the world's deepest ocean environment is heavily contaminated with microplastics, likely through sinking and current-driven accumulation.
Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments and organisms of the Western Pacific Ocean
Researchers collected deep-sea sediment and organism samples from multiple sites in the western Pacific Ocean and found microplastics at all locations sampled, with depth, distance from land, and current patterns influencing accumulation, confirming the western Pacific deep sea as a significant microplastic sink.
Unveiling the deep-sea microplastic Odyssey: Characteristics, distribution, and ecological implications in Pacific Ocean sediments
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in deep-sea sediments from the Pacific Ocean at depths reaching nearly 7,000 meters. They found microplastics at every sampling site, predominantly polyester and rayon fibers, with the highest concentrations in the Western Pacific. The study highlights that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most remote deep-sea environments on Earth, raising concerns about its ecological impact.
Distribution of microplastics in bathyal- to hadal-depth sediments and transport process along the deep-sea canyon and the Kuroshio Extension in the Northwest Pacific
Researchers mapped microplastic distribution from shallow to ultra-deep ocean sediments in the Northwest Pacific, including Sagami Bay and areas beneath the Kuroshio Extension current. The study found the highest microplastic concentrations in abyssal stations and suggests two distinct transport pathways: land-sourced microplastics move to hadal depths via turbidity currents along submarine canyons, while ocean-surface microplastics sink directly to the abyssal plains below.
Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments
Researchers analyzed deep-sea sediment cores and found microplastics present at depth, providing early evidence that deep-sea sediments globally accumulate microplastic pollution far from coastlines and at the seafloor.
Comparison of Microplastic abundance in varying depths of deep-sea sediments, Bay of Bengal
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in deep-sea sediment samples from the Bay of Bengal at depths of 225 to 1,070 meters, finding the highest concentrations at intermediate depths. The findings add to evidence that microplastics have penetrated into deep-sea environments far from the surface.
Microplastics in the abyss: a first investigation into sediments at 2443-m depth (Toulon, France)
Researchers conducted the first microplastic investigation of deep-sea sediments at 2,443-m depth near Toulon, France, finding microplastics present in abyssal sediments and suggesting that deep-sea environments are not isolated from surface plastic pollution.
Plastics from Surface to Seabed: Vertical Distribution of (Micro)plastic Particles in the North Pacific Ocean
Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics across the water column and deep-sea sediments (>5 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, finding concentrations of 8-2600 items/m3 in the water column and 1100-3200 items/kg in sediments, with distinct patterns across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Papahanaumokuakea Monument, and a less-polluted open ocean site.
Plastics from Surfaceto Seabed: Vertical Distributionof (Micro)plastic Particles in the North Pacific Ocean
Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics from surface waters to deep-sea sediments (>5 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, documenting concentrations of 8-2600 items/m3 in the water column and 1100-3200 items/kg in sediments across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Papahanaumokuakea Monument, and a less-polluted reference site.
High Quantities of Microplastic in Arctic Deep-Sea Sediments from the HAUSGARTEN Observatory
Researchers found high quantities of microplastics in deep-sea sediments from the Arctic HAUSGARTEN observatory, demonstrating that even remote deep Arctic seafloor environments have accumulated significant microplastic pollution.
Fate of microplastics in deep-sea sediments and its influencing factors: Evidence from the Eastern Indian Ocean
Surface sediments from 26 sites in the deep basin of the Eastern Indian Ocean were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations ranging widely and influenced by water depth, distance from land, and ocean current patterns. The study extends deep-sea microplastic monitoring to the Indian Ocean and identifies oceanographic transport as a key control on plastic distribution.
First long-term evidence of microplastic pollution in the deep subtropical Northeast Atlantic
Researchers found microplastic particles in all 110 sediment trap samples collected over a 12-year period from 2,000-meter depths in the Northeast Atlantic, establishing the deep ocean as a long-term sink for microplastics with fluxes increasing over time.
Vertical Flux of Microplastics in the Deep Subtropical Pacific Ocean: Moored Sediment-Trap Observations within the Kuroshio Extension Recirculation Gyre
Researchers used deep-ocean sediment traps to measure the downward flux of microplastics in the western North Pacific Ocean over a two-year period. They found that microplastics, primarily fibers, were sinking to depths of nearly 5,000 meters, with seasonal variations linked to biological processes at the surface. The study provides some of the first direct evidence that microplastics are actively being transported to the deep ocean floor.
Prevalence of microplastic pollution in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean
Researchers conducted the first systematic field survey of microplastic pollution at the surface of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, finding concentrations spanning two orders of magnitude and identifying polyethylene as the dominant polymer type, with the highest concentrations associated with convergence zones shaped by the Kuroshio Current and adjacent eddies.
Toxic anthropogenic pollutants reach the deepest ocean on Earth
PCBs (toxic industrial chemicals) were found at extremely high concentrations in sediment from the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, far exceeding levels seen in shallower marine sediments. This confirms that persistent pollutants—and by implication microplastics—sink to and accumulate in the world's deepest ocean trenches.
Prevalence of small high-density microplastics in the continental shelf and deep sea waters of East Asia
Researchers collected water samples at multiple depth layers across the continental shelf and deep sea of East Asia and found that small, high-density microplastics were more abundant in deeper waters, suggesting vertical sinking pathways concentrate certain particle types in the deep ocean.
Microplastic Contamination of a Benthic Ecosystem in a Hydrothermal Vent
Researchers documented microplastic contamination in a deep-sea hydrothermal vent at the Central Indian Ridge for the first time. The study found microplastics in seawater, sediments, and all six major benthic species examined, with polypropylene, PET, and polystyrene fragments being the most common types, demonstrating that plastic pollution has reached even extreme deep-sea environments.
First evidence of plastic fallout from the North Pacific Garbage Patch
Researchers provided the first direct evidence that plastic debris from the North Pacific Garbage Patch sinks into the deep ocean, with plastic concentrations declining in a predictable pattern as depth increases. The polymer types found in the deep water matched those floating at the surface, confirming that surface garbage patches are a source of deep-sea plastic contamination.
Plastic pollution in deep seafloor of the South China Sea
Researchers documented the abundance, distribution, and transport of plastics in the South China Sea using over 100 manned submersible dives combined with video analysis, finding that large plastics concentrate in canyon geomorphological units while microplastics predominate in coastal sediments via distinct transport mechanisms.
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.