Microplastics and synthetic particles ingested by deep-sea amphipods in six of the deepest marine ecosystems on Earth

Abstract

While there is now an established recognition of microplastic pollution in the oceans, and the detrimental effects this may have on marine animals, the ocean depth at which such contamination is ingested by organisms has still not been established. Here, we detect the presence of ingested microplastics in the hindguts of Lysianassoidea amphipod populations, in six deep ocean trenches from around the Pacific Rim (Japan, Izu-Bonin, Mariana, Kermadec, New Hebrides and the Peru-Chile trenches), at depths ranging from 7000 m to 10 890 m. This illustrates that microplastic contaminants occur in the very deepest reaches of the oceans. Over 72% of individuals examined (65 of 90) contained at least one microparticle. The number of microparticles ingested per individual across all trenches ranged from 1 to 8. The mean and standard error of microparticles varied per trench, from 0.9 ± 0.4 (New Hebrides Trench) to 3.3 ± 0.7 (Mariana Trench). A subsample of microfibres and fragments analysed using FTIR were found to be a collection of plastic and synthetic materials (Nylon, polyethylene, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylchloride, often with inorganic filler material), semi-synthetic (rayon and lyocell) and natural fibre (ramie). Notwithstanding, this study reports the deepest record of microplastic ingestion, indicating that anthropogenic debris is bioavailable to organisms at some of the deepest locations in the Earth's oceans.

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

“…This is being remedied as the research field matures. Microplastics have recently been discovered in presumably pristine locales, including Arctic sea ice (Peeken et al, ), the Antarctic (Waller et al, ), remote mountain ranges (Allen et al, ), and deep ocean trenches (Jamieson et al, ). As is common with emerging environmental issues, much early work focused on describing the extent of microplastic contamination, although sampling and analytical methods are not yet up to the challenge.…”

“…Avery‐Gomm et al () observed that 79% of sea bird (northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis ) samples collected from the southeastern Canadian waters of the Labrador Sea contained microplastics in their digestive tracts. Remarkably, Jamieson et al () recovered mainly microfibers from 72% of the Lysianassoidea amphipods sampled at 7,000 to 10,890 m in six of the deepest ocean trenches in the Pacific Rim. In freshwater environments, a recent study found that 50% of riverine macroinvertebrates (including detritivores and filter feeders) contained microplastics (Windsor et al, ).…”

A microplastic used as infill material in artificial sport turfs reduces plant growth

“…It has been estimated that between 1950 and 2015 at least 8,300,000,000 tons of plastic -29 times the weight of all adult humans on Earth (Walpole et al, 2012) -has been produced, and that over half of this has by now been discarded as waste (Geyer, Jambeck, & Law, 2017). Given the high durability of plastic, most of this plastic waste is still present in the environment, and some is even found in remote places such as the Antarctic (Barnes, Galgani, Thompson, & Barlaz, 2009) and in the Mariana Trench (Jamieson et al, 2019).…”

Solving the plastic problem: From cradle to grave, to reincarnation

“…44 The results are in accord with another recent study, which showed that microplastics and other synthetic particles were being ingested by amphipods (small crustaceans), in six of the deepest parts of the world's oceans. 45 High concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POP) have also been measured in the bodies of amphipods that live in the Mariana and Kermadec trenches (both >10 km deep). Since the levels were far higher than those measured in neighbouring areas where heavy industry operates, it appears that the amphipods are bioaccumulating these anthropogenic pollutants, which are pervasive across the world's oceans and to full ocean depth.…”