Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters
Surface water samples were collected using a low-tech aquatic debris instrument (LADI) at six nearshore locations on the north and northwestern coasts of Iceland to investigate the prevalence of mesoplastic (5–10 mm) and microplastic (0.3–5 mm) in the region. This sampling strategy involved sampling...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Environments |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/12/150 |
| _version_ | 1797459182561001472 |
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| author | Belén García Ovide Erica Cirino Charla Jean Basran Torsten Geertz Kristian Syberg |
| author_facet | Belén García Ovide Erica Cirino Charla Jean Basran Torsten Geertz Kristian Syberg |
| author_sort | Belén García Ovide |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Surface water samples were collected using a low-tech aquatic debris instrument (LADI) at six nearshore locations on the north and northwestern coasts of Iceland to investigate the prevalence of mesoplastic (5–10 mm) and microplastic (0.3–5 mm) in the region. This sampling strategy involved sampling each transect three times for a total of 18 samples collected in order to assess uncertainties related to heterogeneous distribution of plastic in surface waters. Samples in all six nearshore locations contained meso- and/or microplastic, though concentrations were highly variable. Visual, physical, and FTIR analyses were performed on 71 suspected plastic particles collected, confirming and identifying 40 of those particles as one of six types of plastic: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyester, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Lines originating from fishing gear were the most prevalent types of plastic detected across the samples. This study is among the first to quantify and identify microplastic particles collected in Icelandic nearshore surface waters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:47:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49825156c5ac4e1d8ac2193aa143e2f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:47:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-49825156c5ac4e1d8ac2193aa143e2f02023-11-24T14:44:17ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982022-11-0191215010.3390/environments9120150Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic WatersBelén García Ovide0Erica Cirino1Charla Jean Basran2Torsten Geertz3Kristian Syberg4Ocean Missions NGO, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavík, IcelandPlastic Pollution Coalition, 4401A Connecticut Avenue NW #143, Washington, DC 20008, USAHúsavík Research Centre, University of Iceland, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavík, IcelandEkspedition Plastik, Rialtovej 19, 2300 København S, DenmarkDepartment of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, DenmarkSurface water samples were collected using a low-tech aquatic debris instrument (LADI) at six nearshore locations on the north and northwestern coasts of Iceland to investigate the prevalence of mesoplastic (5–10 mm) and microplastic (0.3–5 mm) in the region. This sampling strategy involved sampling each transect three times for a total of 18 samples collected in order to assess uncertainties related to heterogeneous distribution of plastic in surface waters. Samples in all six nearshore locations contained meso- and/or microplastic, though concentrations were highly variable. Visual, physical, and FTIR analyses were performed on 71 suspected plastic particles collected, confirming and identifying 40 of those particles as one of six types of plastic: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyester, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Lines originating from fishing gear were the most prevalent types of plastic detected across the samples. This study is among the first to quantify and identify microplastic particles collected in Icelandic nearshore surface waters.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/12/150microplasticlow-tech aquatic debris instrument (LADI)Icelandsurface waters |
| spellingShingle | Belén García Ovide Erica Cirino Charla Jean Basran Torsten Geertz Kristian Syberg Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters Environments microplastic low-tech aquatic debris instrument (LADI) Iceland surface waters |
| title | Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters |
| title_full | Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters |
| title_short | Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters |
| title_sort | assessment of prevalence and heterogeneity of meso and microplastic pollution in icelandic waters |
| topic | microplastic low-tech aquatic debris instrument (LADI) Iceland surface waters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/12/150 |
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