A.P.W. Barrows, S.E. Cathey, C.W. Petersen

Environmental Pollution, Volume 237, 2018, Pages 275-284, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Microplastic and microfiber pollution has been documented in
all major ocean basins. Microfibers are one of the most common
microparticle pollutants along shorelines. Over 9 million tons of fibers
are produced annually; 60% are synthetic and ∼25% are non-synthetic.
Non-synthetic and semi-synthetic microfibers are infrequently documented
and not typically included in marine environment impact analyses,
resulting in underestimation of a potentially pervasive and harmful
pollutant. We present the most extensive worldwide microparticle
distribution dataset using 1-liter grab samples (n = 1393). Our citizen
scientist driven study shows a global microparticle average of
11.8 ± 24.0 particles L−1 (mean ± SD), approximately three orders of
magnitude higher than global model predictions. Open ocean samples
showed consistently higher densities than coastal samples, with the
highest concentrations found in the polar oceans (n = 51), confirming
previous empirical and theoretical studies. Particles were predominantly
microfibers (91%) and 0.1–1.5 mm in length (77%), a smaller size than
those captured in the majority of surface studies. Using μFT-IR we
determined the material types of 113 pieces; 57% were classified as
synthetic, 12% as semi-synthetic, and 31% as non-synthetic. Samples were
taken globally, including from coastal environments and understudied
ocean regions. Some of these sites are emerging as areas of concentrated
floating plastic and anthropogenic debris, influenced by distant waste
mismanagement and/or deposition of airborne particles. Incorporation of
smaller-sized microfibers in oceanographic models, which has been
lacking, will help us to better understand the movement and
transformation of synthetic, semi-synthetic and non-synthetic
microparticles in regional seas and ocean basins.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1igOxgrL6DSSvDtXI161CWaJn6ytsp5X7

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.062.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117349400)