title: Microplastic pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean: validated and opportunistic sampling.
abstract: Levels of marine debris, including microplastics, are largely un-documented in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Broad scale monitoring efforts are required to understand the distribution, abundance and ecological implications of microplastic pollution. A method of continuous sampling was developed to be conducted in conjunction with a wide range of vessel operations to maximise vessel time. Transects covering a total of 12,700 km were sampled through continuous monitoring of open ocean sub-surface water resulting in 470 samples. Items classified as potential plastics were identified in 94% of samples. A total of 2315 particles were identified, 89% were less than 5mm in length classifying them as microplastics. Average plastic abundance in the Northeast Atlantic was calculated as 2.46 particles m(-3). This is the first report to demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and to present a potential method for standardised monitoring of microplastic pollution.
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: amy.lusher@research.gmit.ie.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lusher
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Officer
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water
keywords: Continuous monitoring; Fibres; Neuston; Plastic; Sub-surface