Transport and Burial of Microplastics in Deep-Marine Sediments by Turbidity Currents

Environmental Science & Technology
F PohlMichael A Clare

Abstract

The threat posed by plastic pollution to marine ecosystems and human health is under increasing scrutiny. Much of the macro- and microplastic in the ocean ends up on the seafloor, with some of the highest concentrations reported in submarine canyons that intersect the continental shelf and directly connect to terrestrial plastic sources. Gravity-driven avalanches, known as turbidity currents, are the primary process for delivering terrestrial sediment and organic carbon to the deep sea through submarine canyons. However, the ability of turbidity currents to transport and bury plastics is essentially unstudied. Using flume experiments, we investigate how turbidity currents transport microplastics, and their role in differential burial of microplastic fragments and fibers. We show that microplastic fragments become relatively concentrated within the base of turbidity currents, whereas fibers are more homogeneously distributed throughout the flow. Surprisingly, the resultant deposits show an opposing trend, as they are enriched with fibers, rather than fragments. We explain this apparent contradiction by a depositional mechanism whereby fibers are preferentially removed from suspension and buried in the deposits as they are trappe...Continue Reading

References

Nov 20, 2001·Nature·M E MöbiusH M Jaeger
May 8, 2004·Science·Richard C ThompsonAndrea E Russell
Nov 17, 2006·Nature·Miquel CanalsJoan Fabres
Oct 23, 2009·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Alan J JamiesonImants G Priede
Feb 14, 2015·Science·Jenna R JambeckKara Lavender Law
Jun 13, 2015·Royal Society Open Science·Lucy C WoodallRichard C Thompson
Mar 22, 2016·Nature Communications·Jan de LeeuwMatthieu J B Cartigny
Oct 1, 2016·Scientific Reports·M L TaylorL C Woodall
Nov 20, 2016·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Liliya Khatmullina, Igor Isachenko
Jun 8, 2017·Nature Communications·Laurent C M LebretonJulia Reisser
Jul 25, 2017·Environmental Pollution·Rachel L CoppockTamara S Galloway
Aug 5, 2017·Science Advances·Roland GeyerKara Lavender Law
Aug 18, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Melanie BergmannGunnar Gerdts
Oct 7, 2018·Nature Communications·Charles K PaullMatthieu J Cartigny
Nov 6, 2018·PloS One·Anna Sanchez-VidalWilliam P de Haan
Jan 5, 2019·Environmental Science & Technology·Nanna B HartmannMartin Wagner
Mar 31, 2019·Scientific Reports·Martina PierdomenicoFrancesco Latino Chiocci
Jun 12, 2019·Environmental Science & Technology·Kieran D CoxSarah E Dudas
Sep 29, 2019·Nature Communications·F PohlM J B Cartigny
Jan 3, 2020·Geophysical Research Letters·Sophie HageCamilla Watts

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 2, 2020·Science·Ian A KaneFlorian Pohl
Dec 18, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Fritz Petersen, Jason A Hubbart
Nov 17, 2020·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Danlian HuangRuijin Li
Nov 19, 2020·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Nelson Rangel-BuitragoAllan T Williams
Nov 1, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Javier Lorenzo-NavarroMay Gómez
Jan 16, 2021·Scientific Reports·Anna Sanchez-VidalMarta Veny
Mar 21, 2021·Environmental Pollution·Beibei HeAshantha Goonetilleke
Apr 2, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Chih-Feng ChenCheng-Di Dong
Apr 19, 2021·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Emma C NicholsAlexander L Bond
Apr 29, 2021·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Hadeel Al-ZawaidahHeide Friedrich
May 12, 2021·Environmental Science & Technology·Hans Peter H ArpAnnika Jahnke
May 25, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Andrey Ethan RubinInes Zucker
Oct 27, 2021·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Harriet L PatersonAndrew B Cundy

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
optical microscopy

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.