The distribution of microplastics in the surface layer of the Atlantic Ocean from the subtropics to the equator according to visual analysis

Marine Pollution Bulletin
Ksenia Silvestrova, Natalia Stepanova

Abstract

This study reports the levels of plastic contamination in the Atlantic Ocean between 35°N and 32°S during the 1st stage of the 79th cruise of the "Akademik Mstislav Keldysh" from December 12, 2019, to January 4, 2020. A subsurface pump system and a Manta net were used for seawater filtration. Twenty-seven samples were visually analyzed with a microscope. It was found that almost every subsurface sample contained potentially plastic particles, which were classified according to their type and size. Plastic fragments were more commonly found in the samples taken from the surface. In the subsurface layer, the majority of the detected particles were fibers. These results also indicate that minimal concentrations of plastics tend to be found near the equator and to the north of the Canary Islands. The maximum microplastic concentrations were found in tropical zones. The obtained results are in good agreement with previous models and field studies.

References

Apr 27, 2002·Nature·David K A Barnes
Oct 31, 2002·Marine Pollution Bulletin·José G B Derraik
Jun 24, 2011·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Nikolai MaximenkoPeter Niiler
Jan 24, 2012·Marine Pollution Bulletin·L C-M LebretonJ C Borrero
Nov 28, 2013·Environmental Pollution·Juliana A Ivar do Sul, Monica F Costa
Sep 17, 2014·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Amy L LusherRick Officer
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Jan 27, 2019·Nature Communications·Atsuhiko IsobeTadashi Tokai

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Citations

Jun 6, 2021·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Tsunefumi KobayashiKenichi Shimizu
Jun 7, 2021·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Cintia Hernández-SánchezJavier Hernández-Borges

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