This is the first survey to investigate the occurrence and extent of plastic contamination in sediments collected in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Plastic debris extracted from 31 samples of sediments were counted, weighted and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). All sediment samples contained plastics: a total of 1661 items of debris (3.14 g) were recorded from the 31 samples of sediment. Plastic particles in the samples ranged from 0.3 to 22 mm in length. Fibres were the most frequent type of small plastics debris detected. In terms of abundance, microplastics (< 5 mm) accounted for 78.4% of debris. 9 polymer types were found: the most common material (94.13% by weight) was styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), widely used in pneumatic tires, etc. A decreasing concentration of plastic debris at increasing distances from the Mario Zucchelli Base was evidenced.

Microplastics in the sediments of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

MUNARI, Cristina
Primo
;
INFANTINI, VANESSA
Secondo
;
SCOPONI, Marco;MISTRI, Michele
Ultimo
2017

Abstract

This is the first survey to investigate the occurrence and extent of plastic contamination in sediments collected in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). Plastic debris extracted from 31 samples of sediments were counted, weighted and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). All sediment samples contained plastics: a total of 1661 items of debris (3.14 g) were recorded from the 31 samples of sediment. Plastic particles in the samples ranged from 0.3 to 22 mm in length. Fibres were the most frequent type of small plastics debris detected. In terms of abundance, microplastics (< 5 mm) accounted for 78.4% of debris. 9 polymer types were found: the most common material (94.13% by weight) was styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), widely used in pneumatic tires, etc. A decreasing concentration of plastic debris at increasing distances from the Mario Zucchelli Base was evidenced.
2017
Munari, Cristina; Infantini, Vanessa; Scoponi, Marco; Rastelli, Eugenio; Corinaldesi, Cinzia; Mistri, Michele
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
MPB_TerraNova_Plastics.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Descrizione: versione editoriale
Tipologia: Full text (versione editoriale)
Licenza: NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione 763.72 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
763.72 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
MPB_2017_TerraNovaPlastics.post.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: post print
Tipologia: Post-print
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 807.16 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
807.16 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/2374802
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 15
  • Scopus 232
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 209
social impact