Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition along a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Ocean

Kanhai, La Daana K.; Officer, Rick; Lyashevska, Olga; Thompson, Richard C.; O'Connor, Ian

Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition along a latitudinal gradient in the Atlantic Ocean

2017

Kanhai, La Daana K. | Officer, Rick | Lyashevska, Olga | Thompson, Richard C. | O'Connor, Ian

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.

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