Pervasive distribution of polyester fibres in the Arctic Ocean is driven by Atlantic inputs

Abstract

Microplastics are increasingly recognized as ubiquitous global contaminants, but questions linger regarding their source, transport and fate. We document the widespread distribution of microplastics in near-surface seawater from 71 stations across the European and North American Arctic - including the North Pole. We also characterize samples to a depth of 1,015 m in the Beaufort Sea. Particle abundance correlated with longitude, with almost three times more particles in the eastern Arctic compared to the west. Polyester comprised 73% of total synthetic fibres, with an east-to-west shift in infra-red signatures pointing to a potential weathering of fibres away from source. Here we suggest that relatively fresh polyester fibres are delivered to the eastern Arctic Ocean, via Atlantic Ocean inputs and/or atmospheric transport from the South. This raises further questions about the global reach of textile fibres in domestic wastewater, with our findings pointing to their widespread distribution in this remote region of the world.

Microplastic Fiber Emissions From Wastewater Effluents: Abundance, Transport Behavior and Exposure Risk for Biota in an Arctic Fjord

“…Furthermore, due to the topography, resulting flows are often spatially and temporally variable. Estimated MP concentrations of 150 MP m −3 were recently reported in near-surface water close to Svalbard, one of the highest concentrations observed within the sampling transect across the pole (Ross et al, 2021). A high contribution of MF to the overall MP count was found (92.8%), similar to our findings.…”

Effect of microplastics in water and aquatic systems

“…Even the most isolated and pristine areas of the earth have been invaded by plastic particles. A recent study (Ross et al 2021) found that the Arctic is rampantly contaminated by MP fibers that would possibly come from the laundering of clothes. Because of the increase in textile manufacturing and the lack of microfiber deterioration, aggregation of microfibers will become more extreme (Liu et al 2021).…”

“…In 96 out of 97 samples collected from around the arctic ocean, the most detailed analysis to date has detected microplastics. Fibers accounted for more than 92% of the MP and 73% of that were found to be polyester having the same size and color as those found in garments (Ross et al 2021). The reduced microfiber density (Brahney et al 2020) can make them more transportable over a long range by water and wind (Liu et al 2021) and their high surface to volume ratio can bind more noxious contaminants, potentially making them more dangerous to the aquatic species that other forms of microplastics (Liu et al 2019).…”

Microplastic Contamination in Snow from Western Italian Alps

“…Whilst the presence of MPs has been pointed out in both anthropic and natural ecosystems worldwide, recent surveys demonstrated the occurrence of MPs also in the so-called remote areas. For instance, MPs items have been found in remote marine ecosystems, such as the deep sea, Southern Oceans, Arctic, and Antarctica [6,7]. Moreover, MPs have been isolated…”