Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic?

Thompson, Richard C.; Olsen, Ylva S.; Mitchell, Richard P.; Davis, Anthony; Rowland, Steven J.; John, A.W.G.; McGonigle, Daniel F.; Russell, Andrea E.

doi:10.1126/science.1094559

Cited by 5,215 publications

(2,419 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Various studies demonstrated the presence of microplastics in the North Sea with maximum concentrations of up to 86 fibers·kg −1 sediment (dry weight) in subtidal habitats. 5,9,[17][18][19]21,22 Especially zones of low hydrodynamic action or dense macroalgal cover can reduce the water turbulence and thereby enhance deposition and sedimentation of particulate matter. 15,56 Additionally, Fucus canopies create a complex surface where plastic particles and fibers could stick to or get trapped.…”

Section: ■ Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Particularly, understanding of the effects of ingested microplastics on species of lower trophic levels is scarce. 5,9,20 The present study aims at investigating how marine isopods cope with ingested microplastics. We chose Idotea emarginata (Fabricius, 1793) as model species because it represents the large group of marine isopods from sub-and eulitoral habitats.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fate of Microplastics in the Marine Isopod Idotea emarginata

Hämer

Gutow

Köhler

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

259

105

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Plastic pollution is an emerging global threat for marine wildlife. Many species of birds, reptiles, and fishes are directly impaired by plastics as they can get entangled in ropes and drown or they can ingest plastic fragments which, in turn, may clog their stomachs and guts. Microplastics of less than 1 mm can be ingested by small invertebrates, but their fate in the digestive organs and their effects on the animals are yet not well understood. We embedded fluorescent microplastics in artificial agarose-based food and offered the food to marine isopods, Idotea emarginata. The isopods did not distinguish between food with and food without microplastics. Upon ingestion, the microplastics were present in the stomach and in the gut but not in the tubules of the midgut gland which is the principal organ of enzyme-secretion and nutrient resorption. The feces contained the same concentration of microplastics as the food which indicates that no accumulation of microplastics happens during the gut passage. Long-term bioassays of 6 weeks showed no distinct effects of continuous microplastic consumption on mortality, growth, and intermolt duration. I. emarginata are able to prevent intrusion of particles even smaller than 1 μm into the midgut gland which is facilitated by the complex structure of the stomach including a fine filter system. It separates the midgut gland tubules from the stomach and allows only the passage of fluids and chyme. Our results indicate that microplastics, as administered in the experiments, do not clog the digestive organs of isopods and do not have adverse effects on their life history parameters.

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Section: ■ Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fate of Microplastics in the Marine Isopod Idotea emarginata

Hämer

Gutow

Köhler

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci. Technol.

259

105

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the environment, larger plastic items can slowly breakdown into small pieces via physical, chemical, and biological processes (O'Brine and Thompson 2010;Singh and Sharma 2008). Plastic debris can be transported into oceans with current and accumulate in marine habitats (Browne et al 2011;Sadri and Thompson 2014;Thompson et al 2004). Plastic debris observed in the environment are mainly millimeters or smaller in size, and those less than 5 mm are generally referred to microplastics (Hidalgo-Ruz et al 2012; Thompson et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plastic debris can be transported into oceans with current and accumulate in marine habitats (Browne et al 2011;Sadri and Thompson 2014;Thompson et al 2004). Plastic debris observed in the environment are mainly millimeters or smaller in size, and those less than 5 mm are generally referred to microplastics (Hidalgo-Ruz et al 2012; Thompson et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to polyethylene debris

Zhang

Huang

et al. 2016

Environ Sci Pollut Res

333

106

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Presence of plastic debris in marine and freshwater ecosystems is increasingly reported. Previous research suggested plastic debris had a strong affiliation for many pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. In this study, the sorption behavior of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), including carbamazepine (CBZ), 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC), triclosan (TCS), and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), to polyethylene (PE) debris (250 to 280 μm) was investigated. The estimated linear sorption coefficients (K d ) are 191.4, 311.5, 5140, and 53,225 L/kg for CBZ, EE2, TCS, and 4MBC, and are related to their hydrophobicities. Increase of salinity from 0.05 to 3.5 % did not affect the sorption of 4MBC, CBZ, and EE2 but enhanced the sorption of TCS, likely due to the salting-out effect. Increase of dissolved organic matter (DOM) content using Aldrich humic acid (HA) as a proxy reduced the sorption of 4MBC, EE2, and TCS, all of which show a relatively strong affiliation to HA. Results from this work suggest that microplastics may play an important role in the fate and transport of PPCPs, especially for those hydrophobic ones.

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“…Since the 1950s, the total amount of plastic produced (and thus its waste) has increased continuously at about 4 % per year, to an estimated 288 million tonnes in 2012 (Ramirez-Llodra et al, 2013; Bergmann et al, 2015). As a consequence, the abundance of plastics at sea has significantly increased over time (Thomson et al, 2004). In the meantime, a large amount of other marine litter categories has also proliferated, such as metal, glass, rubber, wood, paper, textile or fishing items (Serrano et .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition, spatial distribution and sources of macro-marine litter on the Gulf of Alicante seafloor (Spanish Mediterranean)

García-Rivera

Sánchez-Lizaso

Millán

2017

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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(J.L. Sánchez Lizaso), josem.bellido@mu.ieo.es (J.M. Bellido Millán). ABSTRACTThe composition, spatial distribution and source of marine litter in the Spanish Southeast Mediterranean were assessed. The data proceed from a marine litter retention programme implemented by commercial trawlers and were analysed by GIS. By weight, 75.9% was plastic, metal and glass. Glass and plastics were mainly found close to the coast. A high concentration of metal was observed in some isolated zones of both open and coastal waters. Fishing activity was the source of 29.16% of the macro-marine litter, almost 68.1% of the plastics, and 25.1% of the metal. The source of the other 60.84% could not be directly identified, revealing the high degree of uncertainty regarding its specific origin. Indirectly however, a qualitative analysis of marine traffic shows that the likely sources were merchant ships mainly in open waters and recreational and fishing vessels in coastal waters. HIGHLIGHTS 1. 75.9% of marine litter (by weight) was composed of plastics, metal and glass.2. Glass and plastics were mainly found close to the coast.3. There were metal accumulation zones in both open and coastal waters. 4. Fishing activity was the source of 29.16% of marine litter.5. Recreational vessels and shipping were the other main likely sources.

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Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic?

Cited by 5,215 publications

References 4 publications

Fate of Microplastics in the Marine Isopod Idotea emarginata

Fate of Microplastics in the Marine Isopod Idotea emarginata

Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to polyethylene debris

Composition, spatial distribution and sources of macro-marine litter on the Gulf of Alicante seafloor (Spanish Mediterranean)

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