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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Micro- and mesoplastics in the northern Baltic Sea : their fate in the seafloor and effects on benthic fauna
ClearSeafloor sediments as microplastic sinks in the northern Baltic Sea – Negligible upward transport of buried microplastics by bioturbation
A mesocosm experiment with Baltic Sea benthic invertebrates found that bioturbation caused negligible upward transport of buried microplastics from 2 cm and 5 cm depth, with <2% of particles returning to the surface. The results indicate that once microplastics are deposited in marine sediments, bioturbation is unlikely to re-introduce them to the water column, supporting sediments as effective long-term sinks.
Microlitter in Fish and Benthic Invertebrates of the NE Baltic Sea: Abundance, Composition and Bioindicators
Researchers characterized microlitter abundance, composition, and bioindicator potential in fish and benthic invertebrates from multiple sites in the NE Baltic Sea, including the Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Riga, and western Estonia, following HELCOM methodology. Examining 11 fish species and 6 benthic invertebrate species collected during 2019-2020, the study evaluated resident marine fauna as monitors of microplastic contamination.
Occurrence and potential effects of plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea
Researchers examined the occurrence and potential effects of plastic ingestion in pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea, finding plastics in both groups. The study contributed to baseline knowledge of microplastic ingestion rates in commercially important fish species in European seas.
Spatio-temporal variability in the abundance and composition of beach litter and microplastics along the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Beach litter and microplastics (20-5000 microns) were co-assessed along the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein in spring and autumn 2018, finding no correlation between macro and microplastic abundances, with a median of 2 microplastic particles per 500 g dry sediment and six polymer types identified.
Microplastics Baseline Surveys at the Water Surface and in Sediments of the North-East Atlantic
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations at the sea surface and in sediments across the southern North Sea and northwestern Europe, finding highly variable but widespread contamination. Sediments contained far higher concentrations than surface waters, confirming that the seafloor acts as a major sink for microplastic pollution.
Studying the Concentration of Microplastic Particles in Water, Bottom Sediments and Subsoils in the Coastal Area of the Neva Bay, the Gulf of Finland
Microplastic concentrations in the coastal area of Neva Bay were far higher in bottom sediments and coastal soils than in water, with fibers and fragments as the dominant types. The findings indicate that sediments and soils act as major sinks for microplastic accumulation in this Baltic Sea region.
Bioturbation transports secondary microplastics to deeper layers in soft marine sediments of the northern Baltic Sea
Researchers conducted a mesocosm experiment showing that bioturbation by common benthic invertebrates transports secondary microplastics — fragments of fishing line smaller than 1 mm — to deeper sediment layers, demonstrating that biological activity redistributes microplastics vertically on the seafloor.
Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Environments: A Review, Focusing on Interactions with Sediments and Benthic Organisms
This review focuses on microplastic contamination in freshwater sediments and the interactions between microplastics, sediment particles, and benthic organisms, synthesizing evidence on how sediment properties influence microplastic accumulation and how benthic fauna are exposed and affected.
Plastic debris composition and concentration in the Arctic Ocean, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Researchers sampled plastic debris in the Arctic Ocean rim, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea using Manta trawls, finding microplastics at all 11 locations with generally low concentrations averaging 0.06 particles/m3, but with highest concentrations near the Arctic Ocean and polystyrene and polyethylene as dominant polymers.
Impacts of Micro- and Nano-Sized Plastic Particles on Benthic Invertebrates: A Literature Review and Gap Analysis
Researchers conducted a comprehensive literature review of 330 papers examining the effects of micro- and nano-sized plastics on benthic invertebrates that live in aquatic sediments. They found that while plastic particles can cause both physical harm through ingestion and chemical effects through leaching of additives, the vast majority of existing studies have focused on pelagic rather than benthic organisms. The review identifies significant research gaps and calls for more studies on sediment-dwelling species, which face disproportionately high exposure due to plastic particle accumulation in sediments.
Seabed microplastics in the European continental shelf: Unravelling physical and biological transport pathways and reciprocal fauna–Polymer relationships
A large-scale survey of European continental shelf sediments found that microplastics accumulate unevenly on the seafloor, with negatively buoyant polymers concentrating in areas shaped by salinity, temperature, and biological activity. Critically, the study found that seafloor microplastic levels partially explain differences in the communities of bottom-dwelling animals, suggesting plastic pollution is already shaping marine ecosystem structure in European coastal seas.
LIFTING THE VEIL ON MARINE LITTER - Towards a better understanding of Marine Litter in the North Atlantic: Method Development, Occurrence and Impacts
This PhD thesis addressed several gaps in understanding marine litter and microplastics in the North-East Atlantic, developing standardized monitoring methods and conducting toxicity experiments on marine species. The study found no significant trend in seafloor litter around the UK over 25 years but confirmed that even environmental-level microplastic concentrations cause chronic harm to marine organisms.
Presence of microplastics in benthic and epibenthic organisms: Influence of habitat, feeding mode and trophic level
This study examined microplastic occurrence in benthic and epibenthic invertebrates from the Western English Channel, finding that habitat type, feeding mode, and trophic level all influenced microplastic ingestion rates. The results suggest that bottom-dwelling filter feeders and deposit feeders are among the most exposed organisms in seafloor food webs.
Data on microplastic contamination of the Baltic Sea bottom sediment samples in 2015–2016
Microplastic contamination in Baltic Sea bottom sediments was quantified across 53 samples from three major basins, providing primary data on abundance, distribution, and types of particles. This baseline dataset is important for tracking how microplastic pollution in the Baltic Sea changes over time.
Chronological evidence of microplastic accumulation and contamination onset in Central Baltic Sea sediments
Analysis of well-preserved Baltic Sea sediment cores revealed a 50-year chronological record of microplastic accumulation, showing contamination onset in the mid-20th century with accelerating deposition in recent decades.
Microplastics in seawater and fish acquired from the corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea
Microplastics were detected in 100% of seawater and 61% of fish samples collected from corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea, with mean abundances of 19,984 items/m³ in seawater and 3.3 items per fish. The co-sampling design linking fish MP loads to their water column environment provided direct evidence of aquatic exposure driving tissue contamination.
Field evidence for microplastic interactions in marine benthic invertebrates
Field evidence was gathered for microplastic interactions with two polychaete species of different feeding strategies in the Mediterranean benthos, finding that both sessile filter feeders and mobile deposit feeders ingested and accumulated microplastics from benthic environments.
Microplastics in Baltic bottom sediments: Quantification procedures and first results
Researchers developed modified procedures for quantifying microplastics in Baltic Sea bottom sediments, addressing limitations in the standard NOAA methods — particularly the underestimation of fiber counts. The proposed improvements offer a more reliable approach for monitoring sediment contamination in this heavily polluted regional sea.
Microplastics distribution in bottom sediments of the Baltic Sea Proper
Researchers found microplastics in Baltic Sea Proper bottom sediments ranging from 103 to 10,179 items per kg dry weight across 53 samples, with abundance increasing significantly with water depth. Fibrous particles dominated at 74.5% and appeared to behave as a distinct type of 'synthetic sediment,' following erosion-transition-accumulation patterns similar to natural sediment.
Microplastic contamination in benthic organisms from the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions
This study provided the first data on microplastic contamination in benthic invertebrates from Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, finding microplastics in multiple species including sea cucumbers and polychaete worms at concentrations comparable to lower-latitude studies. The results indicate that bottom-dwelling Arctic fauna are exposed to microplastic pollution, potentially transported from lower latitudes by ocean currents.
Microplastic abundance in beach sediments of the Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea
Microplastic abundance (0.2-5 mm) was assessed in drift line sediments from three Kiel Fjord sites differing in visitor use, proximity to a sewage plant, and nearby large-plastic litter. Results revealed that local sources including sewage infrastructure and beach visitor activity influenced microplastic concentrations at specific sites.
Evaluation of the Toxicity of Microplastics in the Supralittoral of the Barents Sea Using Test Objects of Different Trophic Levels
Researchers evaluated the toxicity of microplastics collected from the supralittoral zone of the Barents Sea to model organisms, finding that environmental microplastics — which carry sorbed contaminants and biofilms — were more toxic than pristine laboratory microplastics of equivalent polymer type. The results highlight the importance of using environmentally weathered particles rather than pristine plastics in ecotoxicology studies.
The potential for microplastics to cause harm in the marine environment
This thesis assessed the potential for microplastics to harm marine organisms, focusing on benthic polychaete worms that live in and around contaminated sediments. The research investigated both the physical toxicity from ingested plastic particles and the chemical toxicity from pollutants sorbed onto microplastic surfaces, where concentrations of these contaminants can be much higher than in surrounding seawater.
Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in sediments from Norderney
Researchers surveyed sediments from Norderney in the North Sea and found widespread microplastic contamination, documenting spatial distribution patterns and particle characteristics across this tidally influenced coastal environment.