title: Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples.
abstract: Plastic, as a form of marine litter, is found in varying quantities and sizes around the globe from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Identifying patterns of microplastic distribution will benefit an understanding of the scale of their potential effect on the environment and organisms. As sea ice extent is reducing in the Arctic, heightened shipping and fishing activity may increase marine pollution in the area. Microplastics may enter the region following ocean transport and local input, although baseline contamination measurements are still required. Here we present the first study of microplastics in Arctic waters, south and southwest of Svalbard, Norway. Microplastics were found in surface (top 16 cm) and sub-surface (6 m depth) samples using two independent techniques. Origins and pathways bringing microplastic to the Arctic remain unclear. Particle composition (95% fibres) suggests they may either result from the breakdown of larger items (transported over large distances by prevailing currents, or derived from local vessel activity), or input in sewage and wastewater from coastal areas. Concurrent observations of high zooplankton abundance suggest a high probability for marine biota to encounter microplastics and a potential for trophic interactions. Further research is required to understand the effects of microplastic-biota interaction within this productive environment.
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lusher
authors.affiliation: OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Via A. Piccard 54, 3415, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tirelli
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: D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020387:Food Chain; D046448:Ice Cover; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage; D013538:Svalbard; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D015048:Zooplankton / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical