1
|
Gerigny O, Blanco G, Lips U, Buhhalko N, Chouteau L, Georges E, Meyers N, Vanavermaete D, Galgani F, Ourgaud M, Papillon L, Sempéré R, De Witte B. Comparative analysis of microplastics detection methods applied to marine sediments: A case study in the Bay of Marseille. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 207:116787. [PMID: 39146714 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
An intercomparison exercise on "microplastics in sediment" was carried out by five laboratories using samples collected in the Bay of Marseille in September 2021. The results from different extraction and identification methods varied depending on the type and size classes of MPs, and was better than 80 % for the size class >300 μm and for the fragments. The variability in recovery rates can be attributed to the choice of reagents and extraction protocols. Recovery rates per laboratory were between 47 % and 113 % and the use of ZnCl2 and NaI increased recovery rates by an average of 70 %. The lowest recovery rates (47 and 53 %) were attributed to the reference methods (FTIR and LDIR), conversely the highest (80 and 87 %) were attributed to identification by Nile Red. The average ranged between 23 and 53 items /50 g d.w. with decreases offshore and at greater depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Gerigny
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Laboratoire Environnement Ressource - Provence Azure Corse (LER-PAC). Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Gustavo Blanco
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), CSIC, Subida a Radio Faro 50, 36390, Vigo, Spain.
| | - Urmas Lips
- Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Marine Systems, Akadeemia 15a, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Natalja Buhhalko
- Tallinn University of Technology, Department of Marine Systems, Akadeemia 15a, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Leelou Chouteau
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Laboratoire Environnement Ressource - Provence Azure Corse (LER-PAC). Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Elise Georges
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Laboratoire Environnement Ressource - Provence Azure Corse (LER-PAC). Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Nelle Meyers
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium; Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium; Ghent University, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - David Vanavermaete
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium.
| | - François Galgani
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Laboratoire Environnement Ressource - Provence Azure Corse (LER-PAC). Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Melanie Ourgaud
- Aix Marseille University, Toulon University, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France; University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD), CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens (CEFREM) UMR 5110, 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan, Cedex 09, France.
| | - Laure Papillon
- Aix Marseille University, Toulon University, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France.
| | - Richard Sempéré
- Aix Marseille University, Toulon University, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, LCE, UMR 7376, Ocean Sciences Institute, Marseille, France.
| | - Bavo De Witte
- Aquatic Environment and Quality, Animal Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Carreras-Colom E, Follesa MC, Carugati L, Mulas A, Bellodi A, Cau A. Marine macro-litter mass outweighs biomass in trawl catches along abyssal seafloors of Sardinia channel (Italy). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:43405-43416. [PMID: 38886271 PMCID: PMC11222263 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33909-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
This study provides new insights onto spatial and temporal trends of seafloor macro-litter in the abyssal seafloor of Sardinian channel, in central western Mediterranean (Italy). Trawl surveys were conducted at depths between 884 and 1528 m, thus focusing on one of the least investigated marine environments. None of the considered sites was litter free, with plastics being numerically dominant (57% of items), followed by metal (11%) and glass (16%). Recorded densities and weight ranged between 49.9 and 499 items km-2 and 1.4 and 1052 kg km-2. In the most contaminated sites, the weight of the litter collected in nets represented up to nine times the biomass of benthic megafauna, and, overall, in 60% of hauls macro-litter mass outweighed the biomass collected. Moreover, we report that megafauna was observed to be more abundant in sites where macro-litter presence was more severe. More studies are needed to elucidate the nature of this correlation, with biota being more abundant in hotspots of accumulation of seafloor macro-litter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ester Carreras-Colom
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal I Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Follesa
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy
- ConISMa, ULR Cagliari, Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma, Italy
| | - Laura Carugati
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy
- ConISMa, ULR Cagliari, Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonello Mulas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy
- ConISMa, ULR Cagliari, Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Bellodi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy
- ConISMa, ULR Cagliari, Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cau
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy.
- ConISMa, ULR Cagliari, Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
He M, Tian F, Zhai X, Zhou K, Zhang L, Guo X, Tang Z, Chen H. Distribution and typologies of anthropogenic seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters, China. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116505. [PMID: 38772172 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Marine litter pollution poses a significant threat to offshore ecosystems, eliciting widespread concern. We investigated seafloor litter patterns in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters of China in 2023 via bottom trawl survey. Average number and weight densities were found to be 154.34 ± 30.95 n/km2 and 2384.63 ± 923.98 g/km2, respectively. Plastic was the most abundant material by number density (79.07 %), and rubber the highest by weight density (22.93 %). Overall number density varied from 40.50 ± 22.50 to 221.13 ± 52.44 n/km2, with the highest in Daya Bay and the lowest in Guanghai Bay. Weight density varied from 189.93 ± 71.94 to 5386.70 ± 3050.30 g/km2, with the highest in Qiao Island and the lowest in Honghai Bay. The main source was plastic bags and wrappers. The Pearl River Delta and Daya Bay were identified as seafloor litter distribution hotspots. Controlling plastic waste input is crucial for reducing seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingqiao He
- College of Fisheries and Life, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Fei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhai
- Shenzhen Marine Development & Promotion Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- Shenzhen Marine Development & Promotion Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Linbao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xiangyu Guo
- Shenzhen Marine Development & Promotion Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Zhenzhao Tang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China.
| | - Haigang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of South China Sea Fishery Resource and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Scientific Observation and Research Field Station of Pearl River Estuary Ecosystem, Guangdong Province, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou 510300, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cau A, Sbrana A, Franceschini S, Fiorentino F, Follesa MC, Galgani F, Garofalo G, Gerigny O, Profeta A, Rinelli P, Sbrana M, Russo T. What, where, and when: Spatial-temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor of the western and central Mediterranean sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123028. [PMID: 38012965 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The progressive increase of marine macro-litter on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea is an urgent problem that needs accurate information and guidance to identify those areas most at risk of accumulation. In the absence of dedicated monitoring programs, an important source of opportunistic data is fishery-independent monitoring campaigns of demersal resources. These data have long been used but not yet extensively. In this paper, MEDiterranean International Trawl Survey (MEDITS) data was supplemented with 18 layers of information related to major environmental (e.g. depth, sea water and wind velocity, sea waves) and anthropogenic (e.g. river inputs, shipping lanes, urban areas and ports, fishing effort) forcings that influence seafloor macro-litter distribution. The Random Forest (RF), a machine learning approach, was applied to: i) model the distribution of several litter categories at a high spatial resolution (i.e. 1 km2); ii) identify major accumulation hot spots and their temporal trends. Results indicate that RF is a very effective approach to model the distribution of marine macro-litter and provides a consistent picture of the heterogeneous distribution of different macro-litter categories. The most critical situation in the study area was observed in the north-eastern part of the western basin. In addition, the combined analysis of weight and density data identified a tendency for lighter items to accumulate in areas (such as the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea) with more stagnant currents. This approach, based on georeferenced information widely available in public databases, seems a natural candidate to be applied in other basins as a support and complement tool to field monitoring activities and strategies for protection and remediation of the most impacted areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cau
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy; ConISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Sbrana
- Laboratory of Experimental Ecology and Aquaculture, Department of Biology - University of Rome Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133, Rome, Italy; PhD program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Simone Franceschini
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Fabio Fiorentino
- Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), via L. Vaccari 61, 91026, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Follesa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Tommaso Fiorelli 1, 09126, Cagliari, Italy; ConISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Francois Galgani
- Ifremer Centre Mediterranée, Laboratoire LER/PAC, immeuble Agostini, ZI Furiani, 20600, Bastia, Corse, France
| | - Germana Garofalo
- Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), via L. Vaccari 61, 91026, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy; Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Olivia Gerigny
- Ifremer Centre Mediterranée, Laboratoire LER/PAC, Zone Portuaire de Brégaillon, 83500, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France
| | - Adriana Profeta
- Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), Via S. Raineri, 86 98122, Messina (ME), Italy
| | - Paola Rinelli
- Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), Via S. Raineri, 86 98122, Messina (ME), Italy
| | - Mario Sbrana
- Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata "G. Bacci" (CIBM), viale N. Sauro 4, I-57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Tommaso Russo
- ConISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Experimental Ecology and Aquaculture, Department of Biology - University of Rome Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica snc, 00133, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Galli M, Baini M, Panti C, Giani D, Caliani I, Campani T, Rosso M, Tepsich P, Levati V, Laface F, Romeo T, Scotti G, Galgani F, Fossi MC. Oceanographic and anthropogenic variables driving marine litter distribution in Mediterranean protected areas: Extensive field data supported by forecasting modelling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166266. [PMID: 37579802 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter concentration in the Mediterranean Sea is strongly influenced both by anthropogenic pressures and hydrodynamic factors that locally characterise the basin. Within the Plastic Busters MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) Interreg Mediterranean Project, a comprehensive assessment of floating macro- and microlitter in the Pelagos Sanctuary and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park was performed. An innovative multilevel experimental design has been planned ad-hoc according to a litter provisional distribution model, harmonising and implementing the current sampling methodologies. The simultaneous presence of floating macro- and microlitter items and the potential influences of environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting litter distribution have been evaluated to identify hotspot accumulation areas representing a major hazard for marine species. A total of 273 monitoring transects of floating macrolitter and 141 manta trawl samples were collected in the study areas to evaluate the abundance and composition of marine litter. High mean concentrations of floating macrolitter (399 items/km2) and microplastics (259,490 items/km2) have been found in the facing waters of the Gulf of La Spezia and Tuscan Archipelago National Park as well in the Genova canyon and Janua seamount area. Accordingly, strong litter inputs were identified to originate from the mainland and accumulate in coastal waters within 10-15 nautical miles. Harbours and riverine outfalls contribute significantly to plastic pollution representing the main sources of contamination as well as areas with warmer waters and weak oceanographic features that could facilitate its accumulation. The results achieved may indicate a potentially threatening trend of litter accumulation that may pose a serious risk to the Pelagos Sanctuary biodiversity and provide further indications for dealing with plastic pollution in protected areas, facilitating future management recommendations and mitigation actions in these fragile marines and coastal environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Galli
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Dario Giani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Rosso
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy; CIMA Research Foundation, 17100 Savona, Italy
| | - Paola Tepsich
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy; CIMA Research Foundation, 17100 Savona, Italy
| | - Vanessa Levati
- CIMA Research Foundation, 17100 Savona, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Napoli Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica Laface
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 98167 Messina, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 98057 Milazzo, Italy; ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 98057 Milazzo, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Scotti
- ISPRA, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, 98057 Milazzo, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Davidson J, Arienzo MM, Harrold Z, West C, Bandala ER, Easler S, Senft K. Polymer Characterization of Submerged Plastic Litter from Lake Tahoe, United States. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 77:1240-1252. [PMID: 37731356 PMCID: PMC10604391 DOI: 10.1177/00037028231201174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring plastic litter in the environment is critical to understanding the amount, sources, transport, fate, and environmental impact of this pollutant. However, few studies have monitored plastic litter on lakebeds which are potentially important environments for determining the fate and transport of plastic litter in freshwater basins. In this study, a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus was used for litter collection at the lakebed along five transects in Lake Tahoe, United States. Litter was brought to the surface and characterized by litter type. Plastic litter was subsampled, and polymer composition was determined using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The average plastic litter from the lakebed for the five dive transects was 83 ± 49 items per kilometer. The top plastic litter categories were other plastic litter (plastic litter that did not fall in another category), followed by food containers, bottles <2 L, plastic bags, and toys. These results are in line with prior studies on submerged litter, and intervention approaches or ongoing education are needed. The six polymers most frequently detected in the subsamples were polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene/expanded polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate/polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide. These observations reflect global plastic production and microplastic studies from lake surface water and sediments. We found that some litter subcategories were primarily comprised of a single polymer type, therefore, in studies where the polymer type cannot be measured but litter is categorized, these results could provide an estimate of the total polymer composition for select litter categories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Davidson
- Desert Research Institute, Northern Nevada Science Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Monica M Arienzo
- Desert Research Institute, Northern Nevada Science Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Zoe Harrold
- Clear Horizons Consulting, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Colin West
- Clean Up the Cayes, DBA Clean Up the Lake, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
| | - Erick R Bandala
- Desert Research Institute, Southern Nevada Science Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Sadye Easler
- Clean Up the Cayes, DBA Clean Up the Lake, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
| | - Katie Senft
- University of California, Davis, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pasanisi E, Galasso G, Panti C, Baini M, Galli M, Giani D, Limonta G, Tepsich P, Delaney E, Fossi MC, Pojana G. Monitoring the composition, sources and spatial distribution of seafloor litter in the Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) through Fishing for Litter initiatives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:90858-90874. [PMID: 37466840 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28557-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Although the seafloor is an important sink for marine litter, its less accessible environment makes seafloor litter the least studied component. Nevertheless, detailed monitoring of its composition and spatial distribution is urgently needed to develop appropriate mitigation strategies in areas exposed to multiple anthropogenic pressures, such as the Adriatic Sea. Commercial fisheries such as bottom trawls can serve as an opportunistic platform for collecting data on seafloor litter and help researchers in addressing the lack of data through Fishing for Litter initiatives. In this study, the crews of twelve trawlers from two Italian Adriatic ports collected seafloor litter as part of their Fishing for Litter initiatives. In addition to the classical scheme, the collected litter was sorted on board into different bags, and speed, duration and geographical coordinates of each haul were recorded to allow an assessment of both densities and spatial distribution. More than 600 kg of litter was removed from the seafloor by the fishers in approximately 1 month and characterised by the researchers on the docks. Most of the found items were made of synthetic polymers and related to packaging, fisheries and aquaculture activities. Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear and mussel nets were identified as of particular concern in the maritime compartment of Chioggia and Civitanova Marche, respectively. Three hotspots for marine litter were identified: near the Venice lagoon, in the centre of the northern basin and at greater depth in the central Adriatic. This study provides a detailed picture of the spatial distribution and composition of seafloor litter in the areas studied and highlights the importance of increased cooperation between fishermen and scientists to improve the identification of hotspots and sources while removing marine litter from the seafloor and raising awareness of the problem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Pasanisi
- Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Dorsoduro 3484/d, 30123, Venice, Italy
- Current address: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Galasso
- Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Dorsoduro 3484/d, 30123, Venice, Italy
- Current address: Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
- Current address: Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Panti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Baini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Matteo Galli
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Dario Giani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Limonta
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Tepsich
- Centro Internazionale in Monitoraggio Ambientale, CIMA Research Foundation, Savona, Italy
| | - Eugenia Delaney
- Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Dorsoduro 3484/d, 30123, Venice, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Fossi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulio Pojana
- Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Dorsoduro 3484/d, 30123, Venice, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Viejo J, Cózar A, Quintana R, Martí E, Markelain G, Cabrera-Castro R, Arroyo GM, Montero E, Morales-Caselles C. Artisanal trawl fisheries as a sentinel of marine litter pollution. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114882. [PMID: 37054479 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Systematic seafloor surveys are a highly desirable method of marine litter monitoring, but the high costs involved in seafloor sampling are not a trivial handicap. In the present work, we explore the opportunity provided by the artisanal trawling fisheries to obtain systematic data on marine litter in the Gulf of Cadiz between 2019 and 2021. We find that plastic was the most frequent material, with a prevalence of single-use and fishing-related items. Litter densities decreased with increasing distance to shore with a seasonal migration of the main litter hotspots. During pre-lockdown and post-lockdown stages derived from COVID-19, marine litter density decreased by 65 %, likely related to the decline in tourism and outdoor recreational activities. A continuous collaboration of 33 % of the local fleet would imply a removal of hundreds of thousands of items each year. The artisanal trawl fishing sector can play a unique role of monitoring marine litter on the seabed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josué Viejo
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | - Andrés Cózar
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain
| | - Rocío Quintana
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain
| | - Elisa Martí
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain
| | - Gorka Markelain
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | - Remedios Cabrera-Castro
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | - Gonzalo M Arroyo
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain
| | | | - Carmen Morales-Caselles
- Departamento de Biología, University of Cadiz, European University of the Seas (SEA-EU), Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Segal Y, Lubinevsky H. Spatiotemporal distribution of seabed litter in the SE Levantine Basin during 2012-2021. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114714. [PMID: 36860013 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study explores the first record of spatiotemporal distributions of macro and micro-litter on the seafloor in the Southeastern (SE) Levantine Basin (LB) during 2012-2021. Macro-litter was surveyed by bottom trawls in water depths of 20-1600 m and micro-litter by sediment box corer/grab at a depths range of 4-1950 m. Maximal macro-litter concentrations were recorded at the upper continental slope (200 m), averaging 4700 ± 3000 items/km2. Plastic bags and packages were the most abundant items (77 ± 9 %) with a maximum of 89 % at 200 m depth, and their size decreased with increasing water depth. Micro-litter debris were found mainly in shelf sediments (≤30 m water depth) with an average concentration of 40 ± 50 items/kg, while shit particles transferred to the deep sea. These findings suggest an extensive distribution of plastic bags and packages in the SE LB, predominantly accumulating in the upper continental slope and deeper, based on their size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yael Segal
- Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Hadas Lubinevsky
- Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Taviani M, Foglini F, Castellan G, Montagna P, McCulloch MT, Trotter JA. First assessment of anthropogenic impacts in submarine canyon systems off southwestern Australia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159243. [PMID: 36208760 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the anthropogenic impacts on southwestern Australian submarine canyons by quantifying macro-litter discovered during Remotely Operated Vehicle surveys. The study area encompasses the Bremer canyon systems and Perth Canyon. The categories of macro-litter identified by our study are plastic, metal, aluminium, glass, fabric, mixed, derelict fishing gear, and unclassified. The anthropogenic impacts in the canyons explored is minimal, especially in the Bremer canyon systems, whereas Perth Canyon has comparatively more macro-litter, presumably due to intense maritime traffic and nearby urban development. On a global scale, however, the environmental status of southwestern Australian canyons is relatively pristine. This analysis provides a baseline for the monitoring and enduring stewardship of these habitats where lush and diverse biota, including deep-sea corals, thrive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Taviani
- Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Bologna, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Foglini
- Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgio Castellan
- Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Bologna, Italy.
| | - Paolo Montagna
- Istituto di Scienze Polari (ISP), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Bologna, Italy
| | - Malcom T McCulloch
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia
| | - Julie A Trotter
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Fabri-Ruiz S, Baudena A, Moullec F, Lombard F, Irisson JO, Pedrotti ML. Mistaking plastic for zooplankton: Risk assessment of plastic ingestion in the Mediterranean sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159011. [PMID: 36170920 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Floating plastic debris is a pervasive pollutant in seas and oceans, affecting a wide range of animals. In particular, microplastics (<5 mm in size) increase the possibility that marine species consume plastic and enter the food chain. The present study investigates this potential mistake between plastic debris and zooplankton by calculating the plastic debris to zooplankton ratio over the whole Mediterranean Sea. To this aim, in situ data from the Tara Mediterranean Expedition are combined with environmental and Lagrangian diagnostics in a machine learning approach to produce spatially-explicit maps of plastic debris and zooplankton abundance. We then analyse the plastic to zooplankton ratio in regions with high abundances of pelagic fish. Two of the major hotspots of pelagic fish, located in the Gulf of Gabès and Cilician basin, were associated with high ratio values. Finally, we compare the plastic to zooplankton ratio values in the Pelagos Sanctuary, an important hotspot for marine mammals, with other Geographical Sub-Areas, and find that they were among the larger of the Western Mediterranean Sea. Our results indicate a high potential risk of contamination of marine fauna by plastic and advocate for novel integrated modelling approaches which account for potential trophic transfer within the food chain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Fabri-Ruiz
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; DECOD (Ecosystem Dynamics and Sustainability), IFREMER, INRAE, Institut Agro, Nantes, France.
| | - A Baudena
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
| | - F Moullec
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
| | - F Lombard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 75231 Paris, France
| | - J-O Irisson
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| | - M L Pedrotti
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Plastic pollution of four understudied marine ecosystems: a review of mangroves, seagrass meadows, the Arctic Ocean and the deep seafloor. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:371-387. [PMID: 36214383 DOI: 10.1042/etls20220017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is now a worldwide phenomenon affecting all marine ecosystems, but some ecosystems and regions remain understudied. Here, we review the presence and impacts of macroplastics and microplastics for four such ecosystems: mangroves, seagrass meadows, the Arctic Ocean and the deep seafloor. Plastic production has grown steadily, and thus the impact on species and ecosystems has increased, too. The accumulated evidence also indicates that plastic pollution is an additional and increasing stressor to these already ecosystems and many of the species living in them. However, laboratory or field studies, which provide strong correlational or experimental evidence of ecological harm due to plastic pollution remain scarce or absent for these ecosystems. Based on these findings, we give some research recommendations for the future.
Collapse
|
13
|
Exploring Scientific Discourse on Marine Litter in Europe: Review of Sources, Causes and Solutions. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter is a transboundary environmental issue that affects all the world’s oceans. Marine litter research is a young discipline but one that has exploded during the last five years. However, the increased knowledge of sources and underlying causes to marine litter, as well as knowledge regarding solutions, lack systematic review and synthesis. This study reviews the scientific discourses around plastic marine litter in Europe, and more specifically, in Norway and Denmark, and explores emerging discourse coalitions. Four main thematic storylines on the source-cause-solution causal relationship, as well as two emerging storylines within marine litter research, are found. This study concludes that in order to secure sustainability of solutions and to avoid risk transformation and greenwashing, more interdisciplinary research, including life cycle assessment and investigations of scientific and societal discourses, is needed.
Collapse
|
14
|
Haarr ML, Falk-Andersson J, Fabres J. Global marine litter research 2015-2020: Geographical and methodological trends. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 820:153162. [PMID: 35051476 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A systematic review of research on marine macrolitter densities in the past five years (2015-2020) revealed considerable knowledge gaps in the field. Nearly half he reviewed studies were on stranded litter. Data are scarce from many of the regions estimated to mismanage the largest amounts of plastic waste. In regions where data are available these are typically from coastal areas with few data from the high and deep seas; 57% and 87% of studies on pelagic and seafloor litter, respectively, took place within 100 km from shore. Data on pelagic litter are generally constrained to the sea surface and only two of 30 pelagic studies have measured macrolitter deeper in the water column. Reported litter densities are generally highest for stranded litter, although seafloor litter densities by weight are high in some areas. Reported densities of floating litter are several orders of magnitude lower. However, a lack of standardisation of methods makes it difficult both to assess and to compare litter densities within and across the different environmental compartments in time and space. The review illustrates a great need for survey design development within the field of macroplastics and point to some long-established considerations from ecological research pertaining to independence of data points, spatial autocorrelation, sampling scale, and plot size and shape which are highly relevant also for marine litter research. These considerations are relevant both for global standardisation efforts and for independent studies. Furthermore, the knowledge gaps created by geographic and compartment biases in research needs to be addressed to identify further research needs, validate models and inform policy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jannike Falk-Andersson
- Salt Lofoten AS, Fiskergata 23, 8301 Svolvær, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Joan Fabres
- Salt Lofoten AS, Fiskergata 23, 8301 Svolvær, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Compa M, Alomar C, Morató M, Álvarez E, Deudero S. Are the seafloors of marine protected areas sinks for marine litter? Composition and spatial distribution in Cabrera National Park. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:152915. [PMID: 34998764 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The seafloors of oceans and seas are becoming major sinks for marine litter (ML) at a global scale and especially within the Mediterranean Sea. Within global oceans and seas, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established to protect and conserve marine habitats and increase marine biodiversity. In this study, extensive coastal shallow scuba diving surveys were conducted in 2019 and 2020 to identify the distribution of ML in the MPA of Cabrera Marine-Terrestrial National Park (Cabrera MPA) in the Balearic Islands. Approximately 900 items weighing 70.1 kg were collected throughout the MPA during the underwater surveys. Glass bottles, including pieces (25-30%) and glass or ceramic fragments >2.5 cm (8-19%) were the most common identified items followed by plastic food containers and plastic bags (~8%). Overall, 75% of the abundance of collected ML was observed during the first year. In terms of the protection status of the different locations, similar abundances of ML were found in public access areas and no-take areas. Additionally, no significant differences were identified according to location indicating that ML on the seafloor was homogeneous within the studied shallow coastal areas. Overall, the results indicate that Cabrera MPA is a hotspot for ML and mitigation actions and measures, such as annual cleaning efforts, can help to prevent and minimize ML accumulation on the seafloor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Compa
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, (IEO, CSIC) Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
| | - Carme Alomar
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, (IEO, CSIC) Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Mercè Morató
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, (IEO, CSIC) Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Elvira Álvarez
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, (IEO, CSIC) Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, (IEO, CSIC) Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Orthodoxou DL, Loizidou XI, Baldwin C, Kocareis C, Karonias A, Ateş MA. Seasonal and geographic variations of marine litter: A comprehensive study from the island of Cyprus. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 177:113495. [PMID: 35245764 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Twenty beaches located around the island of Cyprus, in the eastern Mediterranean, were identified as monitoring sites. They were monitored over four monitoring sessions from January to September 2021 to assess marine litter amounts, categories, and spatiotemporal distribution. A total of 42,499 marine litter items were collected. The average marine litter density was 0.19 items/m2. Most of the collected items were plastics, with single-use plastics being ubiquitous. Plastic fragments >2.5 cm made a significant proportion of the plastic litter collected, particularly in the northern coasts of the island. Cigarette butts were abundant on touristic beaches, especially in the tourism period. The study identifies significant temporal and spatial variations in the abundance and distribution of marine litter, as well as variations related to waste management or lack thereof.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Xenia I Loizidou
- AKTI Project and Research Centre, 95 Kyrenias Avenue, 2113 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christina Baldwin
- AKTI Project and Research Centre, 95 Kyrenias Avenue, 2113 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Cemile Kocareis
- Famagusta Walled City Association (MASDER), Bishop Chapel, 99450 Famagusta, Cyprus
| | - Anastasis Karonias
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, 2 Akropoleos Street, 2101 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Maria Ayça Ateş
- North Cyprus Diving Centre Association, Demak Is Hani, No: 24 Muftu Ziya Efendi Sok., Nicosia, Cyprus
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Cutroneo L, Capello M, Domi A, Consani S, Lamare P, Coyle P, Bertin V, Dornic D, Reboa A, Geneselli I, Anghinolfi M. Microplastics in the abyss: a first investigation into sediments at 2443-m depth (Toulon, France). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:9375-9385. [PMID: 35001272 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17997-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic and microplastic pollutions are known to be widespread across the planet in all types of environments. However, relatively little about microplastic quantities in the deeper areas of the oceans is known, due to the difficulty to reach these environments. In this work, we present an investigation of microplastic (<5 mm) distribution performed in the bottom sediments of the abyssal plain off the coast and the canyon of Toulon (France). Four samples of deep-sea sediment were collected at the depth of 2443 m during the sea operations carried out by the French oceanographic cruises for the KM3NeT project. The chemical and physical characterisation of the sediment was carried out, and items were extracted from sediments by density separation and analysed by optical microscope and µRaman spectroscopy. Results show microplastics in the deep-sea sediments with a concentration of about 80 particles L-1, confirming the hypothesis of microplastics spread to abyssal sediments in the Mediterranean Sea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cutroneo
- DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, I-16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Capello
- DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, I-16132, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Alba Domi
- DIFI, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso, 33, 16146, Genoa, Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics, 33 Via Dodecaneso, I-16146, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sirio Consani
- DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, I-16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Patrick Lamare
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France
| | - Paschal Coyle
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Bertin
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France
| | - Damien Dornic
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France
| | - Anna Reboa
- DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, I-16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Irene Geneselli
- DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, I-16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Anghinolfi
- DIFI, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso, 33, 16146, Genoa, Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics, 33 Via Dodecaneso, I-16146, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gérigny O, Pedrotti ML, El Rakwe M, Brun M, Pavec M, Henry M, Mazeas F, Maury J, Garreau P, Galgani F. Characterization of floating microplastic contamination in the bay of Marseille (French Mediterranean Sea) and its impact on zooplankton and mussels. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113353. [PMID: 35121214 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) were sampled in three seasons from 2016 to 2018 in the Bay of Marseille, northwestern Mediterranean Sea, adjacent to a highly urbanized area. Six sites were selected according to their different characteristics (river mouth, treatment plants, protected marine area). Surface floating MPs were characterized (number, weight, typology and polymer) as was zooplankton. In addition, mussels were submerged and used to investigate ingestion. Finally, a hydrodynamic model was used to improve understanding of dispersion mechanisms. The annual averages of floating MPs values ranged from 39,217 to 514,817 items/km2. The MPs collected were mainly fragments principally composed of polyethylene and polypropylene. The mean abundance ratio (MPs/zooplankton) was 0.09. On average 87% of mussel pools were contaminated and ingested 18.73 items/100 g of flesh. Two hydrodynamic patterns were identified: the first retaining the MPs in the harbor, and the second dispersing them outside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- O Gérigny
- Ifremer, ODE/LITTORAL/LER-PAC, La Seine-sur-Mer, France.
| | - M-L Pedrotti
- Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, Villefranche sur mer, France
| | | | - M Brun
- Ifremer, ODE/VIGIES, Nantes, France
| | - M Pavec
- Actimar, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France
| | - M Henry
- Ifremer, ODE/LITTORAL/LER-PAC, La Seine-sur-Mer, France
| | - F Mazeas
- Ifremer, REM/RDT/LDCM, Brest, France
| | - J Maury
- Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR 7093, LOV, Villefranche sur mer, France
| | - P Garreau
- Ifremer, Univ. Brest, CNRS UMR 6523, IRD, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - F Galgani
- Ifremer, ODE/LITTORAL/LER-PAC, La Seine-sur-Mer, France
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ferreira GVB, Justino AKS, Eduardo LN, Lenoble V, Fauvelle V, Schmidt N, Junior TV, Frédou T, Lucena-Frédou F. Plastic in the inferno: Microplastic contamination in deep-sea cephalopods (Vampyroteuthis infernalis and Abralia veranyi) from the southwestern Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 174:113309. [PMID: 35090293 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are a relevant environmental concern in marine ecosystems due to their ubiquity. However, knowledge on their dispersion patterns within the ocean basin and the interaction with biota are scarce and mostly limited to surface waters. This study investigated microplastic contamination in two species of deep-sea cephalopods from the southwestern Atlantic with different ecological behaviour: the vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) and the midwater squid (Abralia veranyi). Microplastic contaminated most of the evaluated specimens. V. infernalis showed higher levels of contamination (9.58 ± 8.25 particles individual-1; p < 0.05) than A. veranyi (2.37 ± 2.13 part. ind.-1), likely due to the feeding strategy of V. infernalis as a faecal pellets feeder. The size of extracted microplastics was inversely proportional to the depth of foraging. The microplastics were highly heterogeneous in composition (shape, colour and polymer type). Our results provide information regarding microplastic interaction with deep-sea organisms and evidence of the biological influence in the microplastic sinking mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme V B Ferreira
- Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil..
| | - Anne K S Justino
- Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil.; Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Toulon, France
| | - Leandro Nolé Eduardo
- Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil.; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
| | - Véronique Lenoble
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Toulon, France
| | - Vincent Fauvelle
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - Natascha Schmidt
- Université de Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - Teodoro Vaske Junior
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Campus do Litoral Paulista, UNESP CLP, Instituto de Biociências, 11380-972 São Vicente, SP, Brazil
| | - Thierry Frédou
- Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil
| | - Flávia Lucena-Frédou
- Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura (DEPAQ), da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, 52171-900 Recife, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rizzo A, Rangel-Buitrago N, Impedovo A, Mastronuzzi G, Scardino G, Scicchitano G. A rapid assessment of litter magnitudes and impacts along the Torre Guaceto marine protected area (Brindisi, Italy). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:112987. [PMID: 34601251 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on assessing litter magnitudes along the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Brindisi, Italy). Collected litter was grouped into twenty different types and classified into four litter typologies according to the Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas. All data were analyzed using an index-based approach that allowed the classification of a coastal stretch in terms of cleanliness, and presence of plastics as well hazardous items. The average litter abundance in the study area was 0.5 items/m2, being plastics the most common litter item. Hazardous litter items were found along the study area, reaching 21.3% of the total collected items. The application of environmental indices allowed to define the study area with a "moderate cleanliness" and a "moderate" presence of hazardous litter items. Sampled litter typologies and related magnitudes suggest a combination of sources that mainly include direct activities on the nearby coastal zones and river basins (dumping).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Rizzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programas de Física - Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Angelita Impedovo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mastronuzzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scardino
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scicchitano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Int-Veen I, Nogueira P, Isigkeit J, Hanel R, Kammann U. Positively buoyant but sinking: Polymer identification and composition of marine litter at the seafloor of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112876. [PMID: 34450407 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Different litter types accumulate in all marine environments. Plastics are of special interest because of their high abundance and possible threats to marine organisms. Polymer type is crucial for their distribution and fate in marine environments. Seafloor litter abundance and composition in the Baltic and North Sea were analysed based on three sampling campaigns according to the protocol of ICES International Bottom Trawl Survey. Polymers were identified via attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. General litter abundances differed significantly between the Baltic and North Sea with 9.6 items/km2 and 70.7 items/km2, respectively. Plastic built the dominating litter group in both seas (62.2% and 91.3%, respectively). Polymer identification revealed clear dominance of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyamide. Most polymers were positively buoyant in seawater (89.5%), thereby excluding polymer density as the main driver of vertical plastic litter transportation. Plastics at the seafloor basically reflected the entirety of polymers entering marine environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivo Int-Veen
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Herwigstraße 31, 27572 Bremerhaven, Germany.
| | - Pedro Nogueira
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Herwigstraße 31, 27572 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Jason Isigkeit
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Herwigstraße 31, 27572 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Reinhold Hanel
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Herwigstraße 31, 27572 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kammann
- Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Herwigstraße 31, 27572 Bremerhaven, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Angiolillo M, Gérigny O, Valente T, Fabri MC, Tambute E, Rouanet E, Claro F, Tunesi L, Vissio A, Daniel B, Galgani F. Distribution of seafloor litter and its interaction with benthic organisms in deep waters of the Ligurian Sea (Northwestern Mediterranean). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147745. [PMID: 34134397 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted marine basins and currently serves as a hotspot for marine litter. The seafloor represents the ultimate sink for most litter worldwide. Nevertheless, the knowledge about litter distribution and its interactions with benthic organisms in deep water is poorly understood. In 2018, we investigated spatial patterns of macro- and micro-litter distribution, and their effects on benthic communities in the Ligurian Sea. An oceanographic survey was carried out with a remotely operated vehicle and a multibeam echosounder on seven seamounts and canyons, at depths ranging from 350 to 2200 m. High litter accumulations were discovered at the mouth of the Monaco canyon, where estimated densities of up to 3.8 × 104 items km-2 were found at 2200 m depth. The highest abundance of urban litter items was found on the soft substrate, at the bottom of the deeper parts of the submarine canyons, which seem to act as conduits carrying litter from the shelf towards deeper areas. In contrast, fishing-related items were most abundant in the upper layer of the seamounts (300-600 m depths). Furthermore, more than 10% of the observed deep gorgonian colonies were entangled by lost longlines, indicating the detrimental effects of this fishing gear on benthic habitats. The discovery of new litter hotspots and the evaluation of how deep-sea species interact with litter contribute to increasing the knowledge about litter distribution and its effects on the deep ecosystem of the Mediterranean basin. All the observations recorded in this study showed substantial and irreversible changes in the deep and remote areas of marine environments, and these changes were found to be caused by humans. Our findings further stress the need for urgent and specific measures for the management of deep-sea pollution and the reduction of litter inputs in the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Angiolillo
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati, 60, 00144 Rome, Italy.
| | - Olivia Gérigny
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer and Bastia, France
| | - Tommaso Valente
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati, 60, 00144 Rome, Italy; Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marie-Claire Fabri
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer and Bastia, France
| | - Eric Tambute
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Avenue Saint Martin, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
| | - Elodie Rouanet
- GIS Posidonie, Aix-Marseille University, OSU Pytheas, campus universitaire de Luminy, case 901, 13288 Marseille cedex 09, France
| | - Francoise Claro
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle-UMS PATRINAT, CP41, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris, France
| | - Leonardo Tunesi
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati, 60, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Anne Vissio
- Secrétaire exécutif RAMOGE, Av. de l'Annonciade, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
| | - Boris Daniel
- Agence française pour la biodiversité, rue de la République 26, Marseille, France
| | - François Galgani
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (Ifremer), Centre Méditerranée, Z.P. de Brégaillon, 83507, La Seyne-sur-Mer and Bastia, France
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Organic additive release from plastic to seawater is lower under deep-sea conditions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4426. [PMID: 34285235 PMCID: PMC8292457 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24738-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic garbage patches at the ocean surface are symptomatic of a wider pollution affecting the whole marine environment. Sinking of plastic debris increasingly appears to be an important process in the global fate of plastic in the ocean. However, there is insufficient knowledge about the processes affecting plastic distributions and degradation and how this influences the release of additives under varying environmental conditions, especially in deep-sea environments. Here we show that in abiotic conditions increasing hydrostatic pressure inhibits the leaching of the heaviest organic additives such as tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate and diisononyl phthalate from polyethylene and polyvinylchloride materials, whereas deep-sea and surface marine prokaryotes promote the release of all targeted additives (phthalates, bisphenols, organophosphate esters). This study provides empirical evidences for more efficient additive release at the ocean surface than in deep seawater, where the major plastic burden is supposed to transit through before reaching the sediment compartment.
Collapse
|
24
|
An Overview of the Sorption Studies of Contaminants on Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Microplastics in the Marine Environment. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse9040445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Marine pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems, mainly due to single-use or disposable plastic waste fragmenting into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) and entering oceans from the coasts together with human-made MPs. A rapidly growing worry concerning environmental and human safety has stimulated research interest in the potential risks induced by the chemicals associated with MPs/NPs. In this framework, the present review analyzes the recent advances in adsorption and desorption studies of different contaminants species, both organic and metallic, on MPs made of Poly(Ethylene terephthalate). The choice of PET is motivated by its great diffusion among plastic items and, unfortunately, also in marine plastic pollution. Due to the ubiquitous presence of PET MPS/NPs, the interest in its role as a vector of contaminants has abruptly increased in the last three years, as demonstrated by the very high number of recent papers on sorption studies in different environments. The present review relies on a chemical engineering approach aimed at providing a deeper overview of both the sorption mechanisms of organic and metal contaminants to PET MPs/NPs and the most used adsorption kinetic models to predict the mass transfer process from the liquid phase to the solid adsorbent.
Collapse
|
25
|
Dominguez-Carrió C, Sanchez-Vidal A, Estournel C, Corbera G, Riera JL, Orejas C, Canals M, Gili JM. Seafloor litter sorting in different domains of Cap de Creus continental shelf and submarine canyon (NW Mediterranean Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 161:111744. [PMID: 33171412 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed litter occurrence in 68 underwater video transects performed on the middle/outer continental shelf and submarine canyon off Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean), an area recently declared Site of Community Importance (SCI). Low densities of urban litter were registered on the shelf (7.2 items ha-1), increasing in abundance towards the deepest part of the submarine canyon, with 188 items ha-1 below 1000 m depth. We hypothesize that the strong bottom currents that recurrently affect this area efficiently move litter objects from the shelf towards the deep. Of all litter items, approximately 50% had a fishing-related origin, mostly longlines entangled on rocks in the canyon head and discarded trawl nets in deeper areas. Over 10% of cold-water colonies observed had longlines entangled, indicating the harmful effects of such practices over benthic habitats. These results should be considered when designing mitigation measures to reduce litter pollution in Cap de Creus SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Dominguez-Carrió
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Anna Sanchez-Vidal
- GRC Geociències Marines, Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l'Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claude Estournel
- Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), CNRS/UPS/CNES/IRD, Avenue Edouard Belin 14, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Guillem Corbera
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Lluís Riera
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Covadonga Orejas
- Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Oceanographic Centre of the Balearics (COB), Ecosystem Oceanography Group (GRECO), Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma, Spain
| | - Miquel Canals
- GRC Geociències Marines, Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l'Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep-Maria Gili
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhang F, Yao C, Xu J, Zhu L, Peng G, Li D. Composition, spatial distribution and sources of plastic litter on the East China Sea floor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 742:140525. [PMID: 32629258 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are present in all marine waters around the globe, often at high abundances and they are potentially harmful to marine organisms. In this study, we investigated the regional distribution, composition, and abundance of plastic items on the floor of the East China Sea based on 43 bottom trawl samples collected during 2019. Considerable geographical variation was detected. Polyethylene was the most abundant polymer type where it accounted for 42.83% by weight. The surface areas and lengths of the plastic items ranged from 3.43 to 2842 cm2 and from 1.3 cm to 14.23 cm, respectively. The plastic density was 18.94 kg/km2 in Sanmen Bay but it was significantly lower at 2.24 kg/km2 in Wenzhou Bay. Fishing gear represented 23.87% of the plastic items. The plastic items found on the coastal sea bed were probably transported and moved during upwelling and downwelling processes, and finally deposited on the seafloor due to the effect of biofouling. The accumulation of macro- and mesoplastics could have detrimental impacts on seafloor ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Chenyang Yao
- Merchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China.
| | - Jiayi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Lixin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Guyu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Daoji Li
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Plastic Marine Debris Research Center, East China Normal University, 200062 Shanghai, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, IOC-UNESCO, Shanghai 200241, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Garofalo G, Quattrocchi F, Bono G, Di Lorenzo M, Di Maio F, Falsone F, Gancitano V, Geraci ML, Lauria V, Massi D, Scannella D, Titone A, Fiorentino F. What is in our seas? Assessing anthropogenic litter on the seafloor of the central Mediterranean Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115213. [PMID: 32688110 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Abundance, composition, and distribution of macro-litter found on the seafloor of the Strait of Sicily between 10 and 800 m depth has been studied using data collected by bottom trawl surveys MEDITS from 2015 to 2019. Three waste categories based on the items use were considered: single-use, fishing-related and generic-use. Over 600 sampling sites, just 14% of these were litter-free. The five-years average density of seafloor litter was 79.6 items/km2 and ranged between 46.8 in 2019 and 118.1 items/km2 in 2015. The predominant waste type was plastic (58% of all items). Regardless of material type, single-use items were a dominant (60% of items) and widespread (79% of hauls) fraction of litter with a mean density of 48.4 items/km2. Fishing-related items accounted for 12% of total litter items. Percentage of dirty hauls and litter density increased with depth. Analysis of the relation density-depth indicates a progressive increase of litter density beyond depth values situated within the interval 234-477 m depending on the litter category. A significant decrease in litter density by categories was observed over the period. Patterns of spatial distribution at the higher depths (200-80 0m) resulted stable over the years. Density hotspots of fishing-related items were found where the fishing activity that uses fish aggregating devices (FADs) is practised and in the proximity of rocky banks. Single-use and generic-use objects densities were greater on the seafloor along main maritime routes than other areas. Comparisons between the percentage of hauls littered with anthropic waste from the mid-1990s against those in 2018-19 highlighted an increase of about 10.8% and 15.3% for single-use items and fishing-related items respectively, and a decrease of 18.6% for generic-use items. This study provides a snapshot of the current situation of littering in the central Mediterranean Sea and represents a solid baseline against which the effectiveness of current and future mitigation strategies of the litter impact on marine environment can be measured.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Garofalo
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - F Quattrocchi
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - G Bono
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - M Di Lorenzo
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - F Di Maio
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) -Marine Biology and Fisheries Laboratory of Fano (PU), University of Bologna (BO), Italy.
| | - F Falsone
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - V Gancitano
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - M L Geraci
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy; Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) -Marine Biology and Fisheries Laboratory of Fano (PU), University of Bologna (BO), Italy.
| | - V Lauria
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - D Massi
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - D Scannella
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - A Titone
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| | - F Fiorentino
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council -CNR, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Botero CM, Zielinski S, Pereira CI, León JA, Dueñas LF, Puentes V. The first report of deep-sea litter in the South-Western Caribbean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 157:111327. [PMID: 32658692 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Marine litter is a world-wide problem, but the knowledge on this topic in remote areas such as the poles and the deep-sea is still limited. This paper seeks to provide the first accounts of deep-sea litter in the South-Western Caribbean Sea. The survey used 5066 still images from ROV video surveys around four hydrocarbon exploratory drilling zones. Forty-eight deep-sea litter items were found at depths between 427 and 2561 m, and analyzed by three different marine litter classifications. Plastic was the most frequent material (65%) and general litter the main category (69%). Almost half of the deep-sea litter items were found close to marine organism. This baseline is a first step to further research of human impact on the marine bottoms of the Caribbean. The paper highlights the importance of deep-sea litter as a descriptor of marine pollution, and the role of scientific cooperation between off-shore industry and the academy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilo M Botero
- Coastal Systems Research Group, Playas Corporacion Ltd., Calle 19 8-44, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Seweryn Zielinski
- Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, 05006 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Cristina I Pereira
- Coastal Systems Research Group, Playas Corporacion Ltd., Calle 19 8-44, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Jorge A León
- Anadarko Colombia Company, Cl. 77a No. 11-32, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luisa F Dueñas
- Anadarko Colombia Company, Cl. 77a No. 11-32, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Bogotá, Carrera 45 N° 26-85, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Cadiou JF, Gerigny O, Koren Š, Zeri C, Kaberi H, Alomar C, Panti C, Fossi MC, Adamopoulou A, Digka N, Deudero S, Concato M, Carbonell A, Baini M, Galli M, Galgani F. Lessons learned from an intercalibration exercise on the quantification and characterisation of microplastic particles in sediment and water samples. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 154:111097. [PMID: 32319923 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
An intercalibration exercise on the characterisation of microplastics in marine sediment and water samples was carried out among five laboratories involved in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in their country. The samples were prepared by mixing cleaned natural sediment and sea water with microplastics sets made of particles of various polymers, shapes and colours. Overall, the errors on total counts were under 25% in absolute value. The risk of non-detection and loss of particles is greater than the risk of contamination during sample analysis. Significant differences are observed among particle types. It appears difficult to obtain reliable and comparable data on the colour of microplastics. A comparison of the errors with regards to the protocols used led to recommend NaCl [1.2 g/cm3] density separation for sediment and one filtering step (200 μm). The operators' experience appears as a key factor for the quality of the results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J-F Cadiou
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer), Zone Portuaire de Bregaillon CS 20 330, La Seyne-sur-Mer 83507, France.
| | - O Gerigny
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer), Zone Portuaire de Bregaillon CS 20 330, La Seyne-sur-Mer 83507, France
| | - Š Koren
- Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia (IWRS), Dunajska cesta 156, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - C Zeri
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
| | - H Kaberi
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
| | - C Alomar
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - C Panti
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - M C Fossi
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - A Adamopoulou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
| | - N Digka
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
| | - S Deudero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - M Concato
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - A Carbonell
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - M Baini
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - M Galli
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - F Galgani
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer), Zone Portuaire de Bregaillon CS 20 330, La Seyne-sur-Mer 83507, France
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Enrichetti F, Dominguez-Carrió C, Toma M, Bavestrello G, Canese S, Bo M. Assessment and distribution of seafloor litter on the deep Ligurian continental shelf and shelf break (NW Mediterranean Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 151:110872. [PMID: 32056651 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Litter has become a common component of marine ecosystems, and its assessment and monitoring are now of primary interest. Here, we characterized seafloor litter in the mesophotic depth range of the Ligurian Sea, one of the most urbanized basins of the Mediterranean Sea. Eighty sites (30-220 m depth) were investigated by by means of ROV video transects. Data regarding environmental parameters and anthropic pressures were used to explain the distribution of human-derived objects. Litter resulted widely distributed in all the investigated areas, with maximum densities of 7900 items ha-1. It was mainly represented by abandoned fishing gears, with highest abundances found on the deep coastal rocky shoals exploited by artisanal and recreational fishermen. Urban litter, primarily represented by plastics, was generally higher close to shore, especially near river mouths and large harbors. Litter densities reported here are among the highest ever recorded in Europe, denoting the urgency for specific actions to prevent further spreading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Enrichetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Carlos Dominguez-Carrió
- Okeanos Research Centre, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pesca, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal; IMAR Instituto do Mar, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pesca, 9901-862 Horta, Portugal
| | - Margherita Toma
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bavestrello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Marzia Bo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa, 26 - 16132 Genova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Goodman AJ, Walker TR, Brown CJ, Wilson BR, Gazzola V, Sameoto JA. Benthic marine debris in the Bay of Fundy, eastern Canada: Spatial distribution and categorization using seafloor video footage. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110722. [PMID: 31733907 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine debris, particularly plastic and abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear, is ubiquitous in marine environments. This study provides the first quantitative and qualitative assessment of benthic debris using seafloor video collected from a drop camera system in the Bay of Fundy, Eastern Canada. An estimated 137 debris items km-2 of seafloor were counted, comprising of plastic (51%), fishing gear (including plastic categories; 28%) and other (cable, metal, tires; 21%). Debris was widespread, but mainly located nearshore (within 9 km) and on the periphery of areas with high fishing intensity. This baseline benthic marine debris characterization and estimate of abundance provides valuable information for government (municipal, provincial and federal) and for other stakeholders to implement management strategies to reduce plastic and other categories of benthic marine pollution at source. Strategies may include limiting plastic use and reducing illegal dumping through improved education among fishers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexa J Goodman
- Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; Applied Research, Ivany Campus, Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, Canada.
| | - Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Craig J Brown
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; Applied Research, Ivany Campus, Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, Canada
| | - Brittany R Wilson
- Applied Research, Ivany Campus, Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, Canada
| | - Vicki Gazzola
- Applied Research, Ivany Campus, Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, Canada
| | - Jessica A Sameoto
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Canada
| |
Collapse
|