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Bakir A, Desender M, Wilkinson T, Van Hoytema N, Amos R, Airahui S, Graham J, Maes T. Occurrence and abundance of meso and microplastics in sediment, surface waters, and marine biota from the South Pacific region. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 160:111572. [PMID: 32920260 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Data on the occurrence and abundance of meso and microplastics for the South Pacific are limited and there is urgent need to fill this knowledge gap. The main aim of the study was to apply a rapid screening method, based on the fluorescence tagging of polymers using Nile red, to determine the concentration of meso and microplastics in biota, sediment and surface waters near the capital cities of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. A spatial investigation was carried out for sediment, biota and water as well as a temporal assessment for sediment for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018). Accumulation zones for microplastics were identified supported by previous hydrodynamic models. Microplastics were detected for all environmental compartments investigated indicating their widespread presence for Vanuatu and Solomons Islands. This method was in alignment with previous recommendations that the Nile red method is a promising approach for the largescale mapping of microplastics in a monitoring context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Bakir
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK.
| | - Marieke Desender
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
| | - Tim Wilkinson
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
| | - Nanne Van Hoytema
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
| | - Ruth Amos
- Vanuatu Bureau of Standards, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Sammy Airahui
- Environment and Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Jennifer Graham
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
| | - Thomas Maes
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK; GRID-Arendal, Teaterplassen 3, 4836 Arendal, Norway.
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