Amy L. Lusher, Ann Burke, Ian O?Connor, Rick Officer, Microplastic
pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean: Validated and opportunistic
sampling, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 88, Issues 1?2, 15 November
2014, Pages 325-333, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.08.023.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14005530)
Abstract: Levels of marine debris, including microplastics, are largely
un-documented in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Broad scale monitoring
efforts are required to understand the distribution, abundance and
ecological implications of microplastic pollution. A method of
continuous sampling was developed to be conducted in conjunction with a
wide range of vessel operations to maximise vessel time. Transects
covering a total of 12,700 km were sampled through continuous monitoring
of open ocean sub-surface water resulting in 470 samples. Items
classified as potential plastics were identified in 94% of samples. A
total of 2315 particles were identified, 89% were less than 5 mm in
length classifying them as microplastics. Average plastic abundance in
the Northeast Atlantic was calculated as 2.46 particles m?3. This is the
first report to demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of microplastic
pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and to present a potential
method for standardised monitoring of microplastic pollution.
Keywords: Plastic; Fibres; Sub-surface; Neuston; Continuous monitoring