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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Where does Arctic beach debris come from? Analyzing debris composition and provenance on Svalbard aided by citizen scientists
ClearCitizen 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.
Citizen scientists reveal small but concentrated amounts of fragmented microplastic on Arctic beaches
Citizen scientists on Arctic tourist cruises collected beach sediment samples from Svalbard and found microplastics at all sites, with small but concentrated quantities of fragmented particles. The study confirms that even remote Arctic beaches are contaminated with microplastics, likely transported from distant sources, and demonstrates the value of citizen science for expanding monitoring coverage in hard-to-reach regions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Microplastics in Svalbard fjords: influence of hydrodynamics and local pollution sources
Researchers studied the distribution of surface and subsurface microplastics in Svalbard fjords over three years (July 2021-2023), investigating how hydrodynamics, river discharge, and local pollution sources influence microplastic fate in Arctic coastal waters.
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.
Monitoring litter on Arctic and subarctic shorelines: current status and next steps for monitoring programs
This review examines the current state of marine litter monitoring on Arctic and subarctic shorelines and recommends steps toward harmonized pan-Arctic monitoring protocols, including community-based monitoring, crowdsourced science programs, and science team surveys to enable detection of long-term plastic pollution trends.
The utility of monitoring snow for microplastics in the Arctic: a pilot study from Iqaluktuuttiaq, Nunavut
Researchers collected Arctic snow samples at increasing distances from the community of Iqaluktuuttiaq, Nunavut, finding microplastics at every location using pyrolysis–GC/MS analysis. Polymer types differed between sites close to the community and more remote sites, suggesting both local human activity and long-range atmospheric transport contribute to contamination. The findings support using snow as a low-cost monitoring tool to track how microplastics reach even remote polar regions.
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.
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.
A nationwide assessment of plastic pollution in the Danish realm using citizen science
Researchers conducted a nationwide citizen science assessment of plastic pollution across Denmark, Greenland, and the Faeroe Islands, with approximately 57,000 school students collecting 374,082 plastic items across eight nature types in 94 of 98 Danish municipalities. The study demonstrated that student-led citizen science can fill important knowledge gaps in land-based plastic litter monitoring beyond beach surveys.