کد مقاله کد نشریه سال انتشار مقاله انگلیسی نسخه تمام متن
5750937 1619699 2017 8 صفحه PDF دانلود رایگان
عنوان انگلیسی مقاله ISI
ReviewMicroplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research
موضوعات مرتبط
علوم زیستی و بیوفناوری علوم محیط زیست شیمی زیست محیطی
پیش نمایش صفحه اول مقاله
ReviewMicroplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research
چکیده انگلیسی


- The Antarctic marine system is considered pristine compared to other regions.
- Microplastics are present in Antarctic waters but available data are scarce.
- Local sources of primary microplastic do not explain reported concentrations.
- Plastic originating from outside the region may contribute to Antarctic pollution.
- Standardised monitoring of microplastic in Antarctic waters is needed urgently.

It was thought that the Southern Ocean was relatively free of microplastic contamination; however, recent studies and citizen science projects in the Southern Ocean have reported microplastics in deep-sea sediments and surface waters. Here we reviewed available information on microplastics (including macroplastics as a source of microplastics) in the Southern Ocean. We estimated primary microplastic concentrations from personal care products and laundry, and identified potential sources and routes of transmission into the region. Estimates showed the levels of microplastic pollution released into the region from ships and scientific research stations were likely to be negligible at the scale of the Southern Ocean, but may be significant on a local scale. This was demonstrated by the detection of the first microplastics in shallow benthic sediments close to a number of research stations on King George Island. Furthermore, our predictions of primary microplastic concentrations from local sources were five orders of magnitude lower than levels reported in published sampling surveys (assuming an even dispersal at the ocean surface). Sea surface transfer from lower latitudes may contribute, at an as yet unknown level, to Southern Ocean plastic concentrations. Acknowledging the lack of data describing microplastic origins, concentrations, distribution and impacts in the Southern Ocean, we highlight the urgent need for research, and call for routine, standardised monitoring in the Antarctic marine system.

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ناشر
Database: Elsevier - ScienceDirect (ساینس دایرکت)
Journal: Science of The Total Environment - Volume 598, 15 November 2017, Pages 220-227
نویسندگان
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