Abundance Of Microplastics In Sediments Research Articles

Microplastics and their interaction with microorganisms in Bosten Lake sediment

Microplastics (MPs), discovered in oceans, lakes, and rivers, can infiltrate the food chain through ingestion by organisms, potentially posing health risks. Our research is the first to study the composition and distribution of MPs in Bosten Lake's sediment. In May, the average abundance of MPs was 0.95±0.72 particles per 10 gs, and in October, it was 0.90±0.61 particles per 10 gs. Bohu Town had the highest MP abundance, with 1.75±0.35 particles per 10 gs in spring and 2 ± 0 particles per 10 gs in autumn. In May, 53 % of the MPs were transparent, while in October, black MPs constituted 58 %. The predominant morphology was fibrous, accounting for 61 % of the total. MPs in the size range of 0.2–1 mm made up 91 % and 66 % of the total in May and October, respectively. The most common types of MPs in May were polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 40 % and polyethylene (PE) at 26 %. In October, PET was the most prevalent at 71 %, followed by poly(ether-ether-ketone)(PEEK) at 11 %. Certain microbial taxa, such as Actinobacteriota, Pseudomonas, and Vicinamibacteraceae, associated with MP degradation or complex carbon chain breakdown, were notably enriched in sediment areas with high MP concentrations. A significant positive correlation was observed between the abundance of MPs in sediments and Actinobacteriota. Additionally, the abundance of Thiobacillus, Ca.competibacter, and other bacteria involved in soil element cycling showed a significant positive correlation with the organic matter content in the sediments. Anaerobic bacteria like Thermoanaerobacterium displayed a significant positive correlation with water depth. Our study reveals the presence, composition, and distribution of MPs in Bosten Lake's sediments, shedding light on their potential ecological impact.

Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the inland river basins in Northern China

Microplastics (MPs) are the pollutants, found widely across various environmental media. However, studies on the MP pollution in urban rivers and the necessary risk assessments remain limited. In this study, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in a typical urban river were examined to evaluate their distribution, sources, and ecological risks. It was observed that the abundance of MPs in sediments (220–2840 items·kg−1 dry weight (DW)) was much higher than that in surface water (2.9–10.3 items·L−1), indicating that the sediment is the “sink” of river MPs. Surface water and sediment were dominated by small particle size MPs (< 0.5 mm). Fiber and debris were common shapes of MPs in rivers and sediments. The microplastics in river water and sediments were primarily white and transparent, respectively. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the major polymers found.

The Effect of Sediment Texture on the Composition and Abundance of Microplastics in Banjaran River, Banyumas Regency, Indonesia

Plastic waste is a serious environmental problem for all countries in the world, including Indonesia. Plastic waste of various sizes can have a negative impact, especially microplastics. Microplastic contamination can be found in aquatic sediments. One of the waters potentially polluted by microplastics is the Banjaran River, Banyumas Regency. This research was conducted to determine the composition and abundance of microplastics as well as the effect of sediment texture on the composition and abundance of microplastics in the sediments of Banjaran River, Banyumas Regency. The research location was determined using purposive sampling at four stations. At each station, samples were taken randomly at three different places with three repetitions. Analysis of the composition and abundance of microplastics in sediments was done in a laboratory using microscope observation. Sediment texture analysis was done using a dry sieve and pipetting method. Five types of microplastics were found in all sediment samples with a predominance of fiber (35%), followed by fragments (29%), films (19%), pellets (10%) and foam (7%). The abundance of microplastics in sediments ranged from 2.3 to 4.86 particles/50 grams of dry sediment. The sediment texture that dominated the four stations was sand, with an average fraction proportion value of 86.62%. Sediment texture had the strongest effect on the composition of fragment-type microplastic at 50.2% and had the same impact on the overall abundance at 56%, which indicated that the sediment texture had a significant effect on these two variables.

Microplastics and microorganisms in sediments from stormwater drain system

Research has already confirmed the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in sediments of stormwater drain system (SDS). However, the microplastic pollution remains to be elucidated well in sediments, especially the spatio-temporal distribution and the impacts of MPs on microorganisms. In this study, the averaged abundance of MPs in SDS sediments was 479 ± 688 items·kg−1 for spring, 257 ± 93 items·kg−1 for summer, 306 ± 227 items·kg−1 for autumn and 652 ± 413 items·kg−1 for winter. As expected, the abundance of MPs was the lowest in summer due to runoff scouring, while the highest in winter attributed to infrequent low-intensity rainfall. The major polymers of MPs were polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene plastics, occupying 76 % to 98 % of the total number. Fiber MPs were the most regardless of season (41 % to 58 %). MPs with size of 250–1000 μm accounted for over 50 %, which is in accordance with the previous study that MPs of <1000 μm were the major. High-throughput sequencing of analysis shows that MPs provided an ecological niche for bacterial communities different from that of SDS sediments. Actinomycetes and bacteria with chemoheterotrophic genes tended to be enriched on the surfaces of MPs. In addition, Acidobacteria and bacteria with nitrification genes would not like to present in microplastisphere. A strong positive correlation (R from 0.74 to 0.83, P < 0.01) was found between the abundance of MPs in sediments and the abundance of functional genes for denitrification and nitrogen respiration of microorganisms on the surfaces of MPs. It indicates that MPs may influence the nitrogen transformation processes in SDS sediments via the occurrence of denitrification processes on the surfaces of MPs. The abundance of MPs had no significant relationship with the various functional genes of microorganisms in the sediments (P > 0.05), which means that MPs could not profoundly influence the expression of microbial functional genes in SDS sediments.

Distribution, compositional characteristics, and historical pollution records of microplastics in tidal flats of South Korea

Studies on distribution of microplastics (MPs) in sediments of tidal flats are relatively scarce compared to other coastal areas. In this study, spatial and vertical distributions and compositions of MPs in tidal flat sediments along the west coast of Korea were investigated. The abundance of MPs in surface and core sediments ranged from 20 to 325 and 14 to 483 particles per 50 g dry weight, respectively. Polypropylene (51%) and polyethylene (36%) were the most dominant MPs; the size was <0.3 mm, and the shape was mostly fragments followed by fibers. The abundance of MPs in sediments has increased rapidly since the 1970s, and recently showed a slight decrease. Surface morphology of MPs analyzed using a scanning electron microscope revealed that the MPs in tidal flats were highly weathered mechanically and/or oxidatively. The results of this study provide valid baseline data on distributions of MPs in tidal flats.

Microplastic Contamination and Ecological Status of Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study in Two Northern Portuguese Rivers

Most European rivers have not yet achieved "good" ecological status. In addition, the presence and abundance of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater is a matter of great concern to the scientific community. This study assesses the ecological status of four sampling sites of Selho (S1-S4) and Costa-Couros (C1-C4) rivers (Guimarães, Portugal), and the abundance of MPs in sediments and benthic macroinvertebrates (Oligochaeta) from those sites. All sites of both rivers under higher pressure did not reach a "good" ecological status (S2-S3, C2-C4) based on the macroinvertebrate community. High levels of nutrients were observed at all sites in both rivers (except C2), especially phosphorus. In the Oligochaeta's gut of Costa-Couros river, the high number of MPs seems to be associated with their weight (95.25 ± 25.61 to 1069.00 ± 385.30 MPs g/fresh weight), suggesting the existence of malnutrition and digestive disorders, whereas the highest number of MPs in gut (134.00 ± 30.36 to 558.6 ± 100.70 MPs g/fresh weight) were found for the heaviest organisms of Selho. Thus, sites with higher ecological status do not necessarily have lower abundance of MPs. In the sediments, urbanization seems to be the main driver for MP contamination. MP contamination is pervasive across the sediments and Oligochaeta's gut in both rivers. Since MPs have the potential to cause harm to environmental and human health, it is essential to monitor not only the ecological status of freshwaters, but also emerging pollutants such as MPs.

Extensive abundances and characteristics of microplastic pollution in the karst hyporheic zones of urban rivers

Cities are potential areas for microplastic pollution due to large-scale production and the use of plastic products. The karst ecosystem in southwestern China is fragile, and pollutants are more likely to be transported over long distance, resulting in higher pollution risks. Understanding the abundance and composition of microplastics in karst urban water systems is crucial for microplastic pollution management in a karst region. This study investigates the abundances and characteristics of microplastics typically found in river sediments in 10 cities in karst regions of Southwest China. The results show that the abundance of microplastics in sediments ranged from 800 items·kg−1 to 4400 items·kg−1, with an average of 2273 ± 775 items·kg−1 (n = 30), indicating high abundance. Polyamide (PA) was the most common plastic polymer types in all sediment samples. The abundance of microplastics in the downstream (2527 ± 698 items·kg−1) was higher than that in the midstream (2350 ± 999 items·kg−1) and upstream areas (1943 ± 370 items·kg−1), indicating a gradual accumulation effect in the karst water systems. Microplastic abundance in cities (2119 ± 838 items·kg−1) was lower than in counties (2427 ± 671 items·kg−1). No significant correlation was found between microplastic abundance in rivers of urban areas and the level of regional population and economy, but significantly negatively correlated with the efficiency of urban sewage treatment. The results obtained from this study provided insights into the management of microplastic pollution in urban river of a karst region.

ANALYSIS OF MICROPLASTICS ABUNDANCE IN SELOREJO RESERVOIR SEDIMENT AT MALANG REGENCY

Plastic waste is a problem that has the potential to pollute the environment and can be asource of problems for waters. Microplastics that enter the waters will enter the water body and will eventually settle in the sediment. This study aims to determine the abundance based on the type, size, color and number of microplastics, to determine the comparison of the abundance of microplastics in sediments at each station and to determine the abundance of microplastics based on the pollutant source, to make a distribution map of the presence of microplastics in the Selorejo Reservoir and to analyze the abundance of microplastics based on pollutant sources in the area. Selorejo Reservoir. The results of the study revealed that in the Selorejo Reservoir sediment the most dominant type of microplastic was fragment (42%), based on color it was black (46%), and based on size was microplastic with a size of 125-250 m (48%). Overall the abundance of microplastics in the Selorejo Reservoir is 56637.5 particles/kg sediment where the abundance is high on grid 8 where the grid is the outlet of the Selorejo Reservoir. The results of the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis on sediment samples showed several polymers, namely polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyprophylene (PP), and polyamide (PA) ornylon.

Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics and Their Migration Patterns in Xiangxi River Basin

Microplastics as a prevalent pollutant in water bodies have recently attracted widespread attention. To investigate the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of microplastics in freshwater rivers and their migration patterns, the surface water, sediments, and subsidence zone of the Xiangxi River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, were sampled and analyzed in November 2020 and April 2021, respectively. The results showed that the average abundance of microplastics in the surface water of Xiangxi River was (6.64±1.32) n·L-1 in flat water and (5.00±1.07) n·L-1 in dry water, the average abundance of microplastics in sediments was (0.56±0.13) n·g-1 in flat water and (0.41±0.09) n·g-1 in dry water, and the average abundance of microplastics in the subsidence zone was (0.53±0.15) n·g-1 in flat water and (0.68±0.18) n·g-1in dry water. There were significant differences in the abundance distribution of microplastics in the surface water, sediments, and subsidence zone (P<0.05). In the surface water and sediments, the particle size of microplastics was mainly distributed in the range of 0.1-0.5 mm, and in the subsidence zone, it mainly ranged from 1-5 mm. The color of microplastics was mainly transparent in the surface water and subsidence zone and blue in sediments. The morphology of microplastics in the Xiangxi River basin was mainly fiber, and the materials were mainly polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). There were many factors affecting the distribution of microplastics. The analysis results showed that the abundance of microplastics in the surface water was negatively correlated with the flow rate of the water body. The abundance of microplastics in the sediment was related to the substrate type of the riverbed and negatively correlated with the substrate particle size. Combined with the microplastic abundance data of each sampling site, it was found that there was a significant migration process of microplastics in the spatial distribution of the Xiangxi River in the watershed. Along the river longitudinal direction, the longitudinal migration of microplastics in the surface water was along the river direction, and in the vertical direction, it showed the mutual migration between the water body and the subsidence zone and the water body and sediments.

Spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics and their macroscopic relationship with algal blooms in Chaohu Lake, China

Microplastics are emerging pollutants with sizes less than 5 mm, and they are ubiquitous. The occurrence of algal blooms has become a major problem affecting water quality in Chaohu Lake. To understand the relationship between the microplastic distribution and algal bloom density from a macroscopic point of view in Chaohu Lake, we collected microplastic samples from water and sediments during the wet and dry seasons and collected satellite remote sensing images of the algae density in recent years. The research results showed that the spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics were uneven and varied greatly. The average abundances of microplastics in the water samples were 2133 ± 1534 n•m−3 in the dry season and 1679 ± 1577 n•m−3 in the wet season, and the average abundance of microplastics in sediments was 308 ± 231 n•kg−1. The abundance of microplastics in the estuaries was higher than those in other locations, and it was higher in the western part of the lake than in the eastern part. The microplastics in water and sediments presented different sizes, colors, shapes and compositions. The abundance, distribution and migration of microplastics were mainly affected by population density, rainfall, runoff, hydrodynamic force and wind direction. At a more macroscopic level, the distribution of microplastics was similar to that of algal blooms, TN and TP to some extent, especially in the early stage of algal bloom outbreaks, and the algal density was significantly positively correlated with the flux of microplastics into the lake. Microplastics, as carriers of algae, could promote the growth of algae blooms in the early stage, while in the later stage, microplastics and algal blooms could aggregate and coprecipitate through adsorption or adhesion and then inhibit the growth of algae.

Distribution of microplastics in benthic sediments of Qinghai Lake on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Although several studies of microplastics (MPs) with size <5 mm in lake sediments focused on lakeshore areas, there have been no studies of distributions of MPs from lakeshores to the center of a lake. To test our hypothesis that MPs decrease from lakeshore to the center, a study was conducted on the largest brackish lake on the remote and high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, China. Abundances and characteristics of MPs in 14 samples of surface sediment collected from a river bay, a lake bay, and a lake central area were investigated. Distributions were influenced by river inflow, tourism, and minimal activity of humans, respectively around Qinghai Lake. The mean abundance of MPs in sediments of Qinghai Lake was 393 ± 457 items/kg, dry mass (dm). Based on the range of MP abundances in surface sediments of lakes worldwide, Qinghai Lake was classified as being moderately polluted with MPs. The dominant color, shape, size, and polymer type of MPs in sediments were transparent, fiber, 0.05–1 mm, and polypropylene, respectively. The river bay had a mean abundance of MPs two-fold greater than either the bay or central area of the lake. This indicates that the river catchment caused more pollution with MPs, while the central area of the lake was not a sink for MPs. Spatial trends of MPs in sediments from the shore to the center of the lake differed among areas, and were significantly related to wind, lake current, sedimentation rate, water- and sediment-properties, water depth, and proximity to land sources of MPs.

Effect of cascade damming on microplastics transport in rivers: A large-scale investigation in Wujiang River, Southwest China

Rivers are the important channels for transporting microplastics into the ocean from land. Prosperous dam construction changed the connectivity of rivers, thereby reducing the flux of microplastics to the ocean. However, this process currently lacks verification for the large-scale watersheds. In this study, we investigated the Wujiang River in China to evaluate the interception of cascade dams on microplastics. The results showed that: 1) The midstream exhibits a high abundance of microplastics (606.6–1046.2 items·kg−1) while the upstream and downstream reach exhibits relatively low pollution levels. The small-sized microplastics of 0–0.5 mm are easily migrated into downstream while the large-sized microplastics of 0.5–5 mm tend to deposit. 2) Ten kinds of plastic materials were found, in which polyethylene and polypropylene, originated from the developed tourism and fishery, account for 74.2% in all samples. 3) The earliest microplastics were found in the sediments of 1962. The abundance of microplastics in the sediments in seven reservoirs increased over time, impling the contribution of increasing human activities. 4) Positive correlations between the abundance of microplastics in sediments and local gross domestic product (GDP) (n = 33, R2 = 0.89, p < 0.05) and negative correlations between microplastics abundance and reservoir basin area (n = 33, R2 = 0.42, p < 0.05) revealed that GDP and watershed area are the key factors that control the distribution of microplastics. Our results help to understand the migration of microplastics between terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

An enhanced risk assessment framework for microplastics occurring in the Westerscheldt estuary

Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the aquatic environment raises considerable concerns. Freshwater system is generally considered as an important source for MPs transformation into the marine environment, however, only limited data on the MPs pollution in global freshwater systems is available at this time. In this study, we explored the abundance, characteristics and distribution of microplastics in the Scheldt River. The investigation results indicated that the abundance of microplastics in sediments (15–413 items/kg dry weight (DW)) was much higher than that in surface water (0–113 items/m3), and small size MPs (less than 500 μm) frequently appeared in sediments. Industrial activities were regarded as the major cause of MP discharging. Risk assessment models with using data of the concentration of MPs, polymer types and toxicity of MPs exposure were developed to assess the risk of MPs pollution in both surface water and sediment of the Westerscheldt estuary. Risk assessment results revealed that MPs exposure have potentially adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem and human health. MPs tend to be transported from “Hotspots”, such as urban or industries area, to remote areas. The risk assessment of MPs serves as a baseline for better understanding the distribution and characteristics of MPs and highlights the need of intensively monitoring to limit MPs release by intensively monitoring. This research provides a perspective on the risk of MPs that could be used in future studies.

Microplastic contamination in lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Current status and transfer mechanisms

This paper aims to investigate the present situation and transfer mechanisms of microplastics in lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The study surveyed the average abundance of microplastics in sediments. The abundance of microplastics in sediments of lakes from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is 17.22–2643.65 items/kg DW and 0–60.63 items/kg DW based on the data of the Qinghai Lake and the Siying Co Basin. The microplastic abundance in sediments from small and medium lakes is very high compared to that in other areas in the world. Like microplastics in other lakes of the world, those in the lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau mainly include organic polymers PA, PET, PE, and PP and are primarily in the shape of fibers and fragments. The microplastic pollution of lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is affected by natural changes and by human activities, and the concentration of microplastics in lacustrine ecosystems gradually increases through food chains. Furthermore, the paper suggests the relevant administrative departments of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau strengthen waste management while developing tourism and pay much attention to the impacts of microplastics in water environments. This study provides a reference for preventing and controlling microplastic contamination in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.

Assessing the relationship between the abundance of microplastics in sediments, surface waters, and fish in the Iran southern shores.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the microplastic (MP) pollution in sediments, surface waters, and four fish species in the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. Sampling was conducted in seven important regions during December 2019. The abundance of MPs was respectively 190 ± 35.5 items/kg dry weight for sediments, 9.28 ± 2.1 items/km2 for surface waters, and 0.33 ± 0.05 items/individual for fish. There was no correlation between MP abundance in surface water, sediment, and fish samples. Except for Cynoglossus arel, abundance of isolated MPs did not show significant relationships with body weight, body length, and gastrointestinal tract weight (P > 0.05). MPs were ranged from 0.3 to 5mm in size and were prevailed by fiber in shape; black, red, and blue in color; and polypropylene and polyethylene in polymer. This study may help in increasing our knowledge regarding MP pollution in marine water systems and biota.

Indicator Function of Ragworm (Nereididae) on Sediment Microplastic in Haizhou Bay Intertidal Zone

Sediment samples were collected from nine sites of three sections, in the intertidal zone of Haizhou bay in July 2018. The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the sediments (and ragworms within the sediments) were then determined to identify the source of microplastics in ragworms, and to explore the effects of ragworms on microplastics in sediment. The average abundance of microplastics in tidal flat sediments was (0.49±0.17) n·g-1, which was at a high level in domestic offshore environmental studies. Among all the microplastics detected, the most common form and color were fiber and black-gray, respectively, and the materials were mainly polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET), and polystyrene (PS). The detection rate of microplastics in ragworm was 77.78%-86.67%, with an average abundance of (6.68±2.21) n·ind-1; the abundance was significantly correlated with individual mass (r=0.42, P=0.002). The microplastic abundance was significantly higher in ragworms with individual mass over 1.5 g than in those with a mass of<0.5 g or 0.5-1 g (F3=141.029, P=0.000). In ragworms, microplastics were dominated by small black or blue fibers, and the main materials were PE and PET. By analyzing the various characteristics of microplastics with a particle size of 0-3 mm, it was found that the abundance of microplastics in sediments was strongly correlated with that in ragworms (r=0.79,P=0.01); the main form (r=0.90, P=0.035) and the material composition (r=0.73, P=0.024) also showed significant correlation between sediments and ragworms. This indicates that ragworms ingest microplastics in the sedimentary environment and exchange the microplastics with the sediments. Therefore, ragworms can be used as an indicator species of microplastic pollution in sediments.

In Situ Effects of a Microplastic Mixture on the Community Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in a Freshwater Pond.

Benthic communities contain some of the most threatened organisms in aquatic habitats due to different anthropogenic pressures. The high abundance of microplastics in sediments will continue to increase in the future, further increasing the probability of interactions between macroinvertebrates and microplastics. In the present study, a benthic community in a relatively pristine shallow pond was exposed either to an environmentally relevant high concentration of a microplastic mixture of 80 g m-2 in the sediment, or a control sediment, without the addition of microplastics. The mixture of microplastics contained irregularly shaped polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyamide in a ratio of 50:25:25%, respectively. The in situ experiment lasted for 100 d. The total number of taxa that colonized the microcosms was 22 (17 in the control and 18 in the microplastic treatment), and the colonization was not affected by the treatment. The most dominant group within the macroinvertebrate community was the dipteran family Chironomidae, in both the control and the microplastic treatment. No significant differences in the abundance and biomass at a community level were recorded between the groups by permutational multivariate analysis of variance (F = 0.993, p = 0.456 and F = 0.344, p = 0.797, respectively). The mixture of microplastics did not influence the abundance or biomass of the functional feeding groups (F = 1.810, p = 0.137 and F = 0.377, p = 0.736, respectively). The species richness, species abundance, species biomass, Shannon's diversity index, and Simpson's index of diversity showed no statistically significant differences between the control and treatment groups. Czekanowski's quantitative similarity index indicated that 84% of the community remained unaffected after microplastic exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:888-895. © 2021 SETAC.

Microplastics in Ghanaian coastal lagoon sediments: Their occurrence and spatial distribution

Each year millions of tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide and around 8 million tons are deposited into our marine environment. Rivers comprise the major conduit for plastic transport with their deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons being the key interface between lotic aquatic and the oceanic environment. However, we have very little knowledge of the role of coastal lagoons in the plastic pollution pathways. We present the spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of microplastics in sediments from two coastal lagoons in Ghana, West Africa. Sediment cores were taken from Mukwei Lagoon, Kpeshie Lagoon and from the mangroves at Kpeshie Lagoon; areas approximately 5–15 km East from the centre of Accra. Microplastics were detected in all samples with a decreasing trend recorded from West to East. All three sites recorded a similar depth profile for plastics: after an initial increase from the surface samples, there was a significant decrease in microplastic concentrations with depth.

Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments and organisms of the Western Pacific Ocean

Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine environments. Sediments and marine organisms are recognized as the carriers and final destinations of microplastics. However, research on the concentration and abundance of microplastics in deep-sea sediments and organisms is limited. In this study, samples of sediments and organisms were collected from deep-sea locations of the western Pacific Ocean, with the depth ranging from 4601 m to 5732 m. Microplastics were extracted from the samples and analyzed by micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The average abundance of microplastics in the sediments was 240 items per kg dry weight of sediment. The microplastics were predominantly fibrous in shape (52.5%), blue in color (45.0%), and less than 1 mm in size (90.0%). The most commonly detected polymers were poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer (40.0%) and polyethylene terephthalate (27.5%). The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are representatives of persistent organic pollutants, in the pore water of sediment samples were also investigated. A significant correlation between the distribution of microplastics and the PCB concentrations in sediments was found (P = 0.016). Microplastics were also detected in deep-sea organisms (i.e., Crinoidea, Pheronematidae, Ophiuroidea, and Gammaridea) in the sampling region, with an abundance of 0–3 items per individual biological sample. This assessment of microplastics in deep-sea sediments and benthic organisms of the western Pacific Ocean confirms that microplastic pollution exists in the deep-sea ecosystems of this region.

Abundance and distribution of microplastics in the surface sediments from the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas

Worldwide the seafloor has been recognized as a major sink for microplastics. However, currently nothing is known about the sediment microplastic pollution in the North Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean. Here, we present the first record of microplastic contamination in the surface sediment from the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. The microplastics were extracted by the density separation method from collected samples. Each particle was identified using the microscopic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR). The abundances of microplastics in sediments from all sites ranged from not detected (ND) to 68.78 items/kg dry weight (DW) of sediment. The highest level of microplastic contamination in the sediment was detected from the Chukchi Sea. A negative correlation between microplastic abundance and water depth was observed. Polypropylene (PP) accounted for the largest proportion (51.5%) of the identified microplastic particles, followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (35.2%) and rayon (13.3%). Fibers constituted the most common shape of plastic particles. The range of polymer types, physical shapes and spatial distribution characteristics of the microplastics suggest that water masses from the Pacific and local coastal inputs are possible sources for the microplastics found in the study area. In overall, our results highlight the global distribution of these anthropogenic pollutants and the importance of management action to reduce marine debris worldwide.