title: Microplastic in the surface waters of the Ross Sea (Antarctica): Occurrence, distribution and characterization by FTIR.
abstract: This is the first survey to investigate the occurrence and extent of microplastic (MPs) contamination in sub surface waters collected near-shore and off-shore the coastal area of the Ross Sea (Antarctica). Moreover, a non-invasive method to analyze MPs, consisting in filtration after water sampling and analysis of the dried filter through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) 2D Imaging, using an FPA detector, was proposed. The non-invasiveness of analytical set-up reduces potential bias and allows subsequent analysis of the filter sample for determination of other classes of contaminants. MPs ranged from 0.0032 to 1.18 particle per m3of seawater, with a mean value of 0.17 ± 0.34 particle m-3, showing concentrations lower than those found in the oceans worldwide. MPs included fragments (mean 71.9 ± 21.6%), fibers (mean 12.7 ± 14.3%), and others (mean 15.4 ± 12.8%). The presence of different types of MPs was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, with predominant abundance of polyethylene and polypropylene. The potential environmental impact arising from scientific activities, such as marine activities for scientific purposes, and from the sewage treatment plant, was also evidenced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: acincinelli@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cincinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scopetani
authors.affiliation: Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chelazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lombardini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martellini
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) - FRAM High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment, Hjalmar Johansens gt. 14 NO, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsoyiannis
authors.affiliation: University of Siena, Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fossi
authors.affiliation: University of Siena, Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corsolini
mesh_terms: D000864:Antarctic Regions; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Antarctica; FTIR; Microplastic; Ross Sea; Subsurface water