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Quantifying microplastics in fjords along the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Quantifying microplastics in fjords along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Tristyn N. Garza, David K.A. Barnes, James D. Scourse, Justine M. Whitaker and Alexis M. Janosik
Marine pollution bulletin, Vol.193, 115144
08/2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115144
Web of Science ID: WOS:001028937400001

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Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous around the world. Microplastics have been documented around the Southern Ocean, in coastal sediments and in Antarctic marine organisms, however microplastics data for Antarctic waters remain scarce. Microplastics concentrations were characterized from fjord habitats on the Western Antarctic Peninsula where most glaciers are rapidly retreating. Water samples were collected from 2017 to 2020 from surface and benthos, vacuum-filtered, quantified to determine the classification of microplastic, color, and size. Micro-FTIR spectrophotometry was utilized to confirm chemical composition. Comparisons over time and location were made for average microplastic per liter. Despite the new emergent youth and remoteness of these habitats, it was determined that all fjord habitats had microplastics present each year sampled and increased from 2017 to 2020 in each fjord. Despite physical ‘barriers’ such as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (and particularly its strongest jet, the Polar Front), microplastics are clearly present and increasing in even recent habitats. [Display omitted] •Antarctic marine environments are remote and considered near pristine compared to other regions.•Water samples were collected along Antarctic Fjords in the austral summers of 2017, 2018, and 2020.•Samples were filtered and quantified for microplastics. Microplastics occurred in all three Antarctic study fjords for each sampled year.•Microplastics were found to be increasing over time from 2017 to 2020.•Fragments were the most common microplastic observed, followed by fibers and foams.

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