Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in Antarctica: Using penguins as biological samplers

Researchers analyzed stomach contents of three Antarctic penguin species for microplastics and other anthropogenic particles, finding MPs in all three species and suggesting that penguins could serve as biological samplers to track plastic pollution trends in remote polar waters.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 123 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in gentoo penguins from the Antarctic region

Microplastic particles were found in the digestive tracts of gentoo penguins sampled from the Antarctic region, adding to evidence that even the remote Southern Ocean ecosystem is contaminated with plastic pollution. The study raises concerns about how microplastic ingestion may affect the health and foraging efficiency of Antarctic seabirds.

2019 Scientific Reports 262 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic occurrence, sources, and impacts in Antarctic environment and biota

Researchers reviewed evidence of plastic pollution in Antarctica, finding microplastics — mostly fibers — in sea ice, ocean water, sediments, and both marine and land animals, raising concern that even the most remote ecosystems on Earth are contaminated and that biodiversity and ecosystem functions may be at risk.

2022 Water Biology and Security 108 citations
Article Tier 2

No evidence of microplastic ingestion in emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri) from the Atka Bay colony (Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica)

Researchers found no evidence of microplastic ingestion in emperor penguin chicks from the Atka Bay colony in Antarctica, suggesting that remote Antarctic regions with low human activity may still have limited microplastic contamination in the marine food web.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Antarctic penguins and seals in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Analysis of fresh scats from penguins and seals at King George Island, Antarctica found microplastics in approximately 30% of samples, including fibers and fragments of polyester and polypropylene, confirming microplastic ingestion by top predators in one of Earth's most remote ecosystems.

2025 Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Seabirds from the poles: microplastics pollution sentinels

Researchers reviewed four decades of studies on microplastic ingestion by seabirds in Arctic and Antarctic regions, covering at least 13 species. They found that polar seabirds regularly ingest microplastics, with polyethylene being the most common type detected. The study highlights that even some of the most remote ecosystems on Earth are not immune to plastic pollution.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals on subantarctic seabirds

Researchers detected microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in subantarctic seabirds, finding contamination in species nesting in remote locations far from direct pollution sources. The findings indicate that ocean currents and atmospheric transport deliver contaminants to even the most isolated seabird colonies.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 15 species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic krill collected near the Antarctic Peninsula. They found microplastics in all species studied, with fish accumulating significantly more particles than krill, and fibers being the most common type. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals on subantarctic seabirds

Researchers detected microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in subantarctic seabirds from remote breeding sites, finding contamination despite geographic isolation from direct pollution sources. The results confirm that oceanic and atmospheric transport pathways carry contaminants to even the most protected seabird habitats.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Determination of the presence of microplastics in intertidal sediments of deception island, antarctica

Researchers determined the presence and characteristics of microplastics in intertidal sediments of Deception Island, Antarctica, providing evidence that plastic contamination has reached one of Earth's most remote environments and documenting the role of marine sediments as sinks for persistent microplastic pollution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research

This paper reviewed microplastics research in the Antarctic marine system, identifying it as an emerging research area and documenting the first evidence of microplastic contamination in this remote polar environment.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 777 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Antarctic Environments

This review examines microplastic pollution in Antarctic environments, summarizing evidence that even this remote continent has been contaminated by plastic particles, with implications for its unique fauna, influence on global climate systems, and value as a pristine scientific reference site.

2025
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic debris in three sympatric seal species of the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in three seal species inhabiting the Western Antarctic Peninsula: crabeater, leopard, and Weddell seals. The study confirmed the presence of anthropogenic debris in these Antarctic marine mammals, demonstrating that microplastic pollution has reached even remote polar ecosystems and their wildlife.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Seabird Feces from Coastal Areas of Central Chile

Researchers analyzed fecal samples from Dominican gulls, Magellanic penguins, and Humboldt penguins in coastal Chile for microplastic content, finding microplastics in all three species. The results document microplastic ingestion by multiple seabird species in Chilean coastal ecosystems, reflecting ocean contamination in the southeastern Pacific.

2023 Animals 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in surface and subsurface Antarctic seawater

Researchers characterized microplastic distribution in both surface and subsurface Antarctic seawater, finding plastic contamination present at multiple depths and dominated by fibers and fragments, highlighting that even remote polar waters are affected by plastic pollution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastics concentration of invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords created by retreating glaciers. They found microplastics present in organisms even in these remote polar environments, with contamination levels varying between species and locations. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and its impact on the health of organisms

This review summarizes existing research on microplastic pollution in Antarctica, covering how these tiny plastic particles reach even the most remote environments through fishing, tourism, and ocean currents. Despite Antarctica being considered pristine, microplastics have been found in both water and sediment across the region. The findings highlight that no place on Earth is free from microplastic contamination, raising concerns about effects on wildlife and ecosystems that are connected to global food chains.

2023 Maritime Technology and Research 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Floating macro- and microplastics around the Southern Ocean: Results from the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition

Researchers surveyed floating macro- and microplastic pollution around the Southern Ocean islands, providing baseline abundance estimates for high southern latitudes. The data reveal that plastic contamination extends even to remote polar regions, with seabirds in the area confirmed to have been ingesting plastics since at least the 1960s.

2020 Environment International 266 citations
Article Tier 2

Do microplastics accumulate in penguin internal organs? Evidence from Svenner island, Antarctica

Scientists examined the internal organs of Adelie penguins from Antarctica and found microplastics in their digestive systems, muscles, and other tissues, the first comprehensive study of microplastic accumulation in penguin organs. The most common plastics found were polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene, likely ingested through contaminated prey. This finding shows that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote ecosystems and is building up inside top predators.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in Soils and Intertidal Sediments at Fildes Bay, Maritime Antarctica

Researchers found microplastic contamination in soils and intertidal sediments at Fildes Bay in Maritime Antarctica, with higher concentrations near research stations, demonstrating that even remote polar environments are affected by microplastic pollution.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in collins bay: establishing the foundation for a monitoring program in king george island, antarctica

Researchers established baseline microplastic contamination data in Collins Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, developing the foundation for a long-term monitoring program in one of the most remote polar environments. The study characterized microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition in Antarctic coastal waters.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Pollution in Antarctica

This overview documents microplastic pollution in Antarctica, summarizing evidence of contamination in seawater, sea ice, sediment, snow, and wildlife despite Antarctica's remoteness, highlighting that long-range atmospheric and oceanic transport delivers plastics to even the most pristine environments.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in collins bay: establishing the foundation for a monitoring program in king george island, antarctica

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in Collins Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, to establish baseline data and lay the foundation for a long-term environmental monitoring program in this remote polar region.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and Its Impact on the Health of Organisms

This review compiled recent findings on microplastic occurrence in Antarctica in both water and sediment, finding that tourism, fishing, and research activities have introduced MPs to this previously considered pristine environment with documented impacts on Antarctic organisms.

2023 Preprints.org 4 citations