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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Abundance and characteristics of microfibers detected in sediment trap material from the deep subtropical North Atlantic Ocean
ClearThe imprint of microfibres in southern European deep seas
Microfibers were found to be the dominant form of plastic contamination in deep-sea sediments from multiple locations across southern European waters, suggesting widespread and persistent fiber deposition in the deep ocean. The findings indicate that microfiber pollution from textile laundering and fishing gear reaches even the most remote deep-sea environments.
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.
Large volumes of microplastics are transported to the deep sea by turbidity currents
Researchers provided the first direct field-scale evidence that turbidity currents in submarine canyons transport large volumes of microplastics including microfibers into the deep sea, demonstrating this mechanism as a major pathway delivering anthropogenic particles to deep seafloor environments.
The first report on emerged microplastics in deep-sea sediment: Insights from the Central Indian Ocean Basin
Researchers reported the first detection of emerged (beach-cast) microplastics in deep-sea sediments from an understudied region, characterizing particle types, polymer composition, and likely transport pathways. The findings confirm that even remote deep-sea environments receive microplastic inputs.
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.
The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris
Researchers analyzed deep-sea sediments from the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean and found microplastic fibers up to 4 orders of magnitude more concentrated than at the contaminated sea surface, identifying the deep seafloor as a vast and previously unknown repository of the world's 'missing' plastic.
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.
A novel method enabling the accurate quantification of microplastics in the water column of deep ocean
A new sampling method was developed to accurately measure microplastics in the deep ocean water column, addressing gaps left by traditional net trawls that miss very small particles. Reliable deep-sea sampling is critical since the deep ocean is thought to be a major sink for global microplastic pollution.
Dispersion, accumulation and the ultimate fate of microplastics in deep-marine environments: A review and future directions
This review synthesized existing knowledge on microplastic distribution in deep-marine environments, integrating process-based sedimentological transport models with field data to outline how microplastics disperse, accumulate, and become buried in seafloor sediments, and identifying key gaps for future research.
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.
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.
Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms
Researchers provided the first evidence that microplastics are being ingested and internalized by deep-sea organisms living on the ocean floor. The study found plastic microfibres in multiple deep-water species, demonstrating that microplastic contamination has already reached some of the most remote habitats on Earth.
Deep Sea Microplastic Pollution Extends Out to Sediments in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean Margins
Researchers surveyed deep-sea sediments across four areas of the Northeast Atlantic and detected microplastics at 75% of stations sampled, finding no hotspots and no clear correlation with depth or distance from land, demonstrating the widespread extent of deep-sea microplastic contamination.
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.
Anthropogenic fibers in the Mediterranean sea: Methods and monitoring of an overlooked category of microparticles in the water column.
Researchers evaluated methods for monitoring anthropogenic fibers, including synthetic and natural types, in the Mediterranean Sea water column, comparing two sampling approaches and highlighting that current methods are underdeveloped for capturing this overlooked category of microparticles.
Abundance, size and polymer composition of marine microplastics ≥ 10 μm in the Atlantic Ocean and their modelled vertical distribution
Researchers measured the abundance, size distribution, and polymer composition of microplastics 10 micrometers and larger in the Atlantic Ocean, finding widespread contamination and providing data that helps fill gaps in understanding smaller particle fractions.
Sinking microplastics at a deep-sea seamount in the North Atlantic: a year-long flux study
Sinking microplastics were collected from sediment traps deployed at a deep-sea seamount in the North Atlantic, providing direct evidence of how plastic particles travel from the surface to the deep ocean floor. The study quantifies the deep-sea plastic flux at an ecologically significant seafloor feature.
Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition along a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Ocean
Researchers sampled sub-surface waters along a transect from the Bay of Biscay to Cape Town and found microplastics throughout the Atlantic Ocean, with the highest concentrations in the subtropical gyres. The study documents the latitudinal gradient of microplastic distribution in the Atlantic and identifies accumulation zones far from land.
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 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.
Anthropogenic fibres in the Baltic Sea water column: Field data, laboratory and numerical testing of their motion
Analysis of water column samples from the Baltic Sea found that synthetic fibers were by far the most common type of microplastic, detected at concentrations from just below the surface down to depth. The study provides detailed vertical distribution data for microplastic fibers in a semi-enclosed sea and includes laboratory tests on how different fiber types behave in seawater.
Microfibers in oceanic surface waters: A global characterization
A global analysis of 916 seawater samples from six ocean basins characterized microfibers as ubiquitous contaminants, finding that many are not synthetic textiles but natural or semi-synthetic materials, questioning the assumption that all environmental fibers are microplastic.
Abundance, distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the North and South Atlantic Ocean
Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance across six major ocean current regions in the Atlantic Ocean, from the Netherlands to Uruguay, using 50 surface trawls. They found an overall concentration of 0.011 particles per cubic meter, with abundance significantly correlated to distance from the coast, and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene fragments being the dominant types. The study provides valuable baseline data from consistently under-sampled regions, particularly the South Atlantic.