title: Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition along a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Ocean.
abstract: Microplastics in the world's oceans are a global concern due to the potential threat they pose to marine organisms. This study investigated microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the Atlantic Ocean on a transect from the Bay of Biscay to Cape Town, South Africa. Microplastics were sampled from sub-surface waters using the underway system of the RV Polarstern. Potential microplastics were isolated from samples and FT-IR spectroscopy was used to identify polymer types. Of the particles analysed, 63% were rayon and 37% were synthetic polymers. The majority of microplastics were identified as polyesters (49%) and blends of polyamide or acrylic/polyester (43%). Overall, fibres (94%) were predominant. Average microplastic abundance in the Atlantic Ocean was 1.15±1.45particlesm-3. Of the 76 samples, 14 were from the Benguela upwelling and there was no statistically significant difference in microplastic abundance between upwelled and non-upwelled sites.
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: ladaana.kanhai@research.gmit.ie.
authors.forename: La Daana K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kanhai
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
authors.affiliation: Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lyashevska
authors.affiliation: Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
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
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009757:Nylons / Q000032:analysis; D010969:Plastics; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis; D013019:South Africa; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons; D010969:Plastics; D011091:Polyesters; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002482:Cellulose; C012024:rayon, purified
keywords: Atlantic Ocean; Marine debris; Microplastic; Sub-surface waters; Upwelling