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Ubiquity of microplastics in coastal seafloor sediments
Citation
Ling, SD and Sinclair, M and Levi, CJ and Reeves, SE and Edgar, GJ, Ubiquity of microplastics in coastal seafloor sediments, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 121, (1-2) pp. 104-110. ISSN 0025-326X (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.038
Abstract
Microplastic pollutants occur in marine environments globally, however estimates of seafloor concentrations are rare. Here we apply a novel method to quantify size-graded (0.038–4.0 mm diam.) concentrations of plastics in marine sediments from 42 coastal and estuarine sites spanning pollution gradients across south-eastern Australia. Acid digestion/density separation revealed 9552 individual microplastics from 2.84 l of sediment across all samples; equating to a regional average of 3.4 microplastics·ml-1 sediment. Microplastics occurred as filaments (84% of total) and particle forms (16% of total). Positive correlations between microplastic filaments and wave exposure, and microplastic particles with finer sediments, indicate hydrological/sediment-matrix properties are important for deposition/retention. Contrary to expectations, positive relationships were not evident between microplastics and other pollutants (heavy metals/sewage), nor were negative relationships with neighbouring reef biota detected. Rather, microplastics were ubiquitous across sampling sites. Positive associations with some faunal-elements (i.e. invertebrate species richness) nevertheless suggest high potential for microplastic ingestion.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | marine plastic, pollution, heavy metals, sewage, estuary, reef |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Ling, SD (Dr Scott Ling) |
| UTAS Author: | Sinclair, M (Mr Matthew Sinclair) |
| UTAS Author: | Levi, CJ (Miss Charlotte Levi) |
| UTAS Author: | Reeves, SE (Mr Simon Reeves) |
| UTAS Author: | Edgar, GJ (Professor Graham Edgar) |
| ID Code: | 117609 |
| Year Published: | 2017 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 97 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2017-06-20 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-05-28 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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