title: Large accumulation of micro-sized synthetic polymer particles in the sea surface microlayer.
abstract: Determining the exact abundance of microplastics on the sea surface can be susceptible to the sampling method used. The sea surface microlayer (SML) can accumulate light plastic particles, but this has not yet been sampled. The abundance of microplastics in the SML was evaluated off the southern coast of Korea. The SML sampling method was then compared to bulk surface water filtering, a hand net (50 μm mesh), and a Manta trawl net (330 μm mesh). The mean abundances were in the order of SML water > hand net > bulk water > Manta trawl net. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified that alkyds and poly(acrylate/styrene) accounted for 81 and 11%, respectively, of the total polymer content of the SML samples. These polymers originated from paints and the fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) matrix used on ships. Synthetic polymers from ship coatings should be considered to be a source of microplastics. Selecting a suitable sampling method is crucial for evaluating microplastic pollution.
authors: Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology , Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea.
authors: Young Kyoung
authors: YK
authors: Song
authors: Sang Hee
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Mi
authors: M
authors: Jang
authors: Jung-Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Kang
authors: Oh Youn
authors: OY
authors: Kwon
authors: Gi Myung
authors: GM
authors: Han
authors: Won Joon
authors: WJ
authors: Shim
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010316:Particle Size; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis*; D012767:Ships; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical