Microplastics distribution in sediment and mussels along the British Columbia Coast, Canada

Noel, M; Wong, C; Ross, PS; Patankar, S; Etemadifar, A; Morales Caselles, María del Carmen; Lyons, Shirley; Delisle, Kelsey; Biología

Microplastics distribution in sediment and mussels along the British Columbia Coast, Canada

2022

Microplastics (MPs) were characterized in surficial marine sediment (n = 36) and mussel (n = 29) samples collected along the British Columbia (BC) coast, Canada, using visual identification and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. MPs counts averaged 32.6 ± 5.3 particles per kg in sediment and 0.38 ± 0.04 particles per individual mussel (0.24 ± 0.04 /g of tissue). Victoria Harbour and the North Coast (Prince Rupert area) were MP hotspots, likely resulting from a combination of local sources and oceanographic conditions. Microfibers <1000 μm dominated the pattern in both matrices (61.1 % in sediment; 65.4 % mussels) highlighting the suspected role of textiles in the widespread distribution of MPs in the marine environment. Overall, polyester was dominant in sediment and mussels (54.1 % and 63.5 %, respectively), followed by polyethylene (16.2 % and 11.5 %, respectively). This is the first report of MPs in sediment and mussels along the coast of BC using standardized methods.

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