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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Toxic anthropogenic pollutants reach the deepest ocean on Earth
ClearMicroplastics 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.
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.
Emerging and legacy pollutants in abyssal sediments of the world’s largest enclosed waterbody
Sediment samples from the abyssal zones of the western Pacific revealed both legacy pollutants (PCBs, DDT) and microplastics at significant depths, showing that even the most remote deep-sea environments are contaminated by human-made chemicals. The co-occurrence suggests microplastics may serve as carriers transporting persistent organic pollutants to the deep ocean.
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.
Global qualitative and quantitative distribution of micropollutants in the deep sea.
Micropollutants have reached all ocean zones including depths beyond 10,000 m, with highest concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere at depths up to 3,000 m; PCBs, organotins, and PAHs were detected above legislated thresholds in both organisms and environmental samples, confirming the deep sea as a pollutant sink.
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.
Systematic 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.
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.
Organic pollutants in deep sea: Occurrence, fate, and ecological implications
This review synthesized data on organic pollutants in the deep sea, finding that persistent contaminants including microplastics and their sorbed chemicals reach depths exceeding 10,000 meters through particle sinking, water mass transport, and biological vectors, threatening poorly understood but ecologically vital deep-sea ecosystems.
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.
Journey to the deep: plastic pollution in the hadal of deep-sea trenches.
Researchers conducted one of the largest surveys of macroplastic debris at hadal depths down to 9,600 meters in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, finding packaging and fishing-related items primarily made of polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon transported by ocean currents.
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.
Unseen pollutants: Microplastics in deep-sea invertebrates
Microplastics were detected in deep-sea invertebrates from multiple ocean basins, confirming that plastic contamination has penetrated to organisms living in the darkest, most remote zones of the ocean. This finding raises concerns about the ecological and food-web implications of deep-sea microplastic exposure.
Stratification and deposition pathways of microplastics in the abyssal sediments of the Philippine Sea
Scientists analyzed sediment cores drilled from the deep Philippine Sea to understand how microplastics sink and accumulate in the ocean's most remote depths. They found microplastics at every layer studied, with concentrations peaking near both the surface and the deepest layers, and discovered that the sediment's chemistry and mineral composition help govern how particles migrate downward. This research reveals that even the abyssal ocean — far from human activity — is accumulating plastic debris, with geological and chemical forces influencing where it ends up.
Persistent organic pollutant accumulation in Pacific abyssal plain sediments and biota: Implications for sources, transport, and deep-sea mining
Researchers provided the first evidence of persistent organic pollutants including PCBs, PBDEs, and PFAS in sediment and deep-sea fish from the Pacific abyssal plain, an area targeted for deep-sea mining. They found that while PCB levels were evenly distributed across sites, other pollutants showed more patchy distributions. The findings raise important questions about how mining activities could disturb contaminated deep-sea sediments and redistribute pollutants into the water column.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Deep seafloor plastics as the source and sink of organic pollutants in the northern South China Sea
This study found high levels of persistent organic pollutants — polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides — adsorbed onto plastic debris collected from the deep seafloor of the South China Sea. The findings confirm that large plastic items on the seafloor act as both sources and sinks for toxic organic pollutants, threatening deep-sea ecosystems.