Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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

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

Accumulation and distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments from the inner Oslofjord, Norway

Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 0.02 to 1.71 MPs/g dry weight in sediments from the inner Oslofjord, Norway, with polyester fibers dominating (76%) and microplastic morphology and polymer type influencing accumulation in specific sediment grain-size fractions.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 39 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 118 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

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

Microplastics abundance and characteristics in surface waters from the Northwest Pacific, the Bering Sea, and the Chukchi Sea

Microplastics were detected in surface waters of the Northwest Pacific, Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea, with fibrous particles dominating and concentrations varying by ocean region and proximity to shipping lanes.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 181 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

Abundance and distribution of microplastics in the surface sediments from the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas

This study documented the first records of microplastic contamination in surface sediments from the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas, including waters near Arctic Alaska, finding widespread but variable particle abundances. The findings confirm that even high-latitude Arctic seafloor sediments receive microplastic input, likely transported by ocean currents from distant sources.

2018 Environmental Pollution 196 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic concentration and potential transport in the Arctic Ocean

Researchers conducted the first multi-matrix, multi-site assessment of nanoplastics across the Arctic Ocean and found polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene nanoplastics widely distributed from the Svalbard region to the central Arctic. Concentrations ranged up to 900 nanograms per liter, with higher levels in snow and surface ice than at the ice-sea interface, suggesting that sea ice acts as a temporary reservoir and secondary source of nanoplastic redistribution.

2026 npj Emerging Contaminants
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

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 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

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.

2021 Water Air & Soil Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Systematical insights into distribution and characteristics of microplastics in near-surface waters from the East Asian Seas to the Arctic Central Basin

Researchers systematically mapped microplastic distribution in near-surface waters from the East Asian Seas to the Arctic Central Basin, detecting particles at 93.9% of sites with an average of 2.91 items/m3 and finding that fragments and fibers dominated across the entire transect.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers

Analysis of 60 water samples from the Eurasian Arctic found average microplastic concentrations of 0.004 items/m³ in surface net samples and 0.8 items/m³ in subsurface pump samples, with particle type and abundance differing significantly between Atlantic water masses and Siberian river plumes.

2021 Communications Earth & Environment 139 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in three typical benthic species from the Arctic: Occurrence, characteristics, sources, and environmental implications

Researchers found microplastics in three benthic species from the Chukchi Sea in the Arctic, with polyester, nylon, and PET as the top three polymer types in sea anemones, deposit-feeding starfish, and snow crabs. Microplastic abundances were significantly higher than those from the Bering Sea but lower than those from other global regions, pointing to long-range transport as a source of Arctic contamination.

2020 Environmental Research 82 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

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