High Quantities of Microplastic in Arctic Deep-Sea Sediments from the HAUSGARTEN Observatory


Contact
Melanie.Bergmann [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

Although mounting evidence suggests the ubiquity of microplastic in aquatic ecosystems worldwide, our knowledge of its distribution in remote environments such as Polar Regions and the deep sea is scarce. Here, we analyzed nine sediment samples taken at the HAUSGARTEN observatory in the Arctic at 2340-5570 m depth. Density separation by MicroPlastic Sediment Separator and treatment with Fenton's reagent enabled analysis via Attenuated Total Reflection FTIR and μFTIR spectroscopy. Our analyses indicate the wide spread of high numbers of microplastics (42-6595 microplastics kg-1). The northernmost stations harbored the highest quantities, indicating sea ice as a possible transport vehicle. A positive correlation between microplastic abundance and chlorophyll a content suggests vertical export via incorporation in sinking (ice-) algal aggregates. Overall, 18 different polymers were detected. Chlorinated polyethylene accounted for the largest proportion (38%), followed by polyamide (22%) and polypropylene (16%). Almost 80% of the microplastics were ≤25 μm. The microplastic quantities are among the highest recorded from benthic sediments. This corroborates the deep sea as a major sink for microplastics and the presence of accumulation areas in this remote part of the world, fed by plastics transported to the North via the Thermohaline Circulation.



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Research Networks
Peer revision
ISI/Scopus peer-reviewed
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
45112
DOI https://www.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b03331

Cite as
Bergmann, M. , Wirzberger, V. , Krumpen, T. , Lorenz, C. , Primpke, S. , Tekman, M. B. and Gerdts, G. (2017): High Quantities of Microplastic in Arctic Deep-Sea Sediments from the HAUSGARTEN Observatory , Environmental Science & Technology, 51 (19), pp. 11000-11010 . doi: https://www.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b03331


Download
[thumbnail of Bergmann_et_al_EST_2017.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Bergmann_et_al_EST_2017.pdf

Download (7MB) | Preview
Cite this document as:

Share


Citation

Geographical region

Research Platforms

Campaigns
ARK > XXIX > 2.1


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item