Synthetic microfibers in the marine environment: A review on their occurrence in seawater and sediments

Gago, Jesús; Carretero, Olga; Filgueiras, Ana Virginia; Viñas, Lucía

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.070

Cited by 354 publications

(189 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…The polymer make‐up of marine plastic debris may aid in identifying possible sources, degradation, fate and reasons for ingestion (Jung et al, ; Nelms et al, ). The polymers identified through FT‐IR analysis reflect the recently reported polymer diversity globally described for microplastics (Gago et al, ). PE and polypropylene (PP) are some of the most abundant polymers found as pollutants worldwide (Gago et al, ; White et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…The polymers identified through FT‐IR analysis reflect the recently reported polymer diversity globally described for microplastics (Gago et al, ). PE and polypropylene (PP) are some of the most abundant polymers found as pollutants worldwide (Gago et al, ; White et al, ). Furthermore, Suaria et al () identified 16 classes of synthetic material from the surface waters of the central‐western Mediterranean Sea.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Most particles isolated in our analysis were fibrous in nature. Indeed, fibres are now a prolific pollutant and are some of the most commonly observed in the natural environment; with numerous potential sources (Gago, Carretero, Filgueiras, & Viñas, ). In terms of colour, our results mirror studies on plankton ingestion, environmental seawater and sediments, with the majority of fibrous microplastics being predominately black, blue or red (Gago et al, ; Güven et al, ; Steer, Cole, Thompson, & Lindeque, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, from further inspection of other digital photographs, individual spectra and high match qualities (over 80%–90%), we propose that these are SRCF such as viscose or rayon. Although originally derived from natural sources they undergo several chemical processes in regeneration to become reconstructed (Comnea‐Stancu et al, ; Gago et al, ). There are distinct differences between native and regenerated cellulose regarding their crystalline structure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies have now identified microplastics in seawater worldwide creating potential exposure during foraging, nesting and migration (Critchell et al, ; Gago et al, ; van Sebille et al, ). Microplastics have also been shown to move from source to sediments (Gago et al, ), with low‐density plastics eventually reaching the seafloor though density‐modification, as a result of biofouling or integration into zooplankton faecal matter (Alomar, Estarellas, & Deudero, ; Andrady, ; Cole et al, ; Coppock, Cole, Lindeque, Queirós, & Galloway, ; Cózar et al, ; Van Cauwenberghe, Devriese, Galgani, Robbens, & Janssen, ). Many marine turtles are known to feed benthically, for example, benthic feeding loggerhead turtles actively rework sediments which are ingested along with their prey (Casale et al, ; Lazar et al, ; Preen, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles

Duncan

Broderick

Fuller

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

239

100

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Despite concerns regarding the environmental impacts of microplastics, knowledge of the incidence and levels of synthetic particles in large marine vertebrates is lacking. Here, we utilize an optimized enzymatic digestion methodology, previously developed for zooplankton, to explore whether synthetic particles could be isolated from marine turtle ingesta. We report the presence of synthetic particles in every turtle subjected to investigation (n = 102) which included individuals from all seven species of marine turtle, sampled from three ocean basins (Atlantic [ATL]: n = 30, four species; Mediterranean (MED): n = 56, two species; Pacific (PAC): n = 16, five species). Most particles (n = 811) were fibres (ATL: 77.1% MED: 85.3% PAC: 64.8%) with blue and black being the dominant colours. In lesser quantities were fragments (ATL: 22.9%: MED: 14.7% PAC: 20.2%) and microbeads (4.8%; PAC only; to our knowledge the first isolation of microbeads from marine megavertebrates). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) of a subsample of particles (n = 169) showed a range of synthetic materials such as elastomers (MED: 61.2%; PAC: 3.4%), thermoplastics (ATL: 36.8%: MED: 20.7% PAC: 27.7%) and synthetic regenerated cellulosic fibres (SRCF; ATL: 63.2%: MED: 5.8% PAC: 68.9%). Synthetic particles being isolated from species occupying different trophic levels suggest the possibility of multiple ingestion pathways. These include exposure from polluted seawater and sediments and/or additional trophic transfer from contaminated prey/forage items. We assess the likelihood that microplastic ingestion presents a significant conservation problem at current levels compared to other anthropogenic threats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles

Duncan

Broderick

Fuller

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

239

100

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show abstract

Microplastics

Llorca¹,

Farré²

2022

Analytical Methods for Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern

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Temporal Variability of Microparticles Under the Seattle Aquarium, Washington State: Documenting the Global Covid‐19 Pandemic

Harris

Beur

Olsen

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Anthropogenic debris including microparticles (MP; <5mm) are ubiquitous in marine environments. The Salish Sea experiences seasonal fluctuations in precipitation, river discharge, sewage overflow events, and tourism-all variables previously thought to have an impact on MP transport and concentrations. Our goals are two-fold: 1) Describe long-term MP contamination data including concentration, type, and size and 2) Determine if seasonal MP concentrations are dependent on environmental or tourism variables in Elliott Bay, Salish Sea. We sampled 100 L of seawater at depth (~9 m) at the Seattle Aquarium approximately every two weeks 2019 -2020 and used an oil extraction This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Accepted Articleprotocol to separate MP. We found MP concentrations ranged from 0 -0.64 particles L⁻¹ and fibers were the most common typ e observed. Microparticle concentration exhibited a breakpoint on April 10, 2020, where estimated slope and associated MP concentration significantly declined. Further, when considering both environmental as well as tourism variables, temporal MP concentration was best described by a mixedeffects model with tourism as the fixed effect and the person counting MP as the random effect. While monitoring efforts presented here set out to identify effects of seasonality and interannual differences in MP concentrations, it instead captured an effect of decreased tourism due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Long-term monitoring is critical to establish temporal MP concentrations and to help researchers understand if there are certain events, both seasonal and sporadic (e.g. rain events, tourism, or global pandemics), when the marine environment is more at risk from anthropogenic pollution.

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Synthetic microfibers in the marine environment: A review on their occurrence in seawater and sediments

Cited by 354 publications

References 90 publications

Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles

Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles

Microplastics

Temporal Variability of Microparticles Under the Seattle Aquarium, Washington State: Documenting the Global Covid‐19 Pandemic

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