First detection of microplastics in the freshwater of an Antarctic Specially Protected Area

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 161; no. Pt B; p. 111811
• Main Authors: González-Pleiter, Miguel, Edo, Carlos, Velázquez, David, Casero-Chamorro, María Cristina, Leganés, Francisco, Quesada, Antonio, Fernández-Piñas, Francisca, Rosal, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Antarctic region; Antarctic Regions; Antarctic specially protected area; Antarctica; Area; Byers Peninsula; conservation areas; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental protection; Fibers; Fresh Water; Freshwater; Inland water environment; Inland waters; Intermittent streams; Islands; marine pollution; Microplastics; Plastic pollution; Plastics; polyesters; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Protected areas; Rivers; Stream pollution; streams; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Antarctic Regions; Antarctic region; Byers Peninsula; Antarctica; Microplastics; Antarctic specially protected area; Freshwater
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111811

Microplastics have been found in all environmental compartments investigated so far, even reaching remote areas. However, their presence in Antarctic freshwaters has not been yet reported. Here, we investigated the occurrence of microplastics in a stream from an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island - ASPA No. 126), which is subject to stringent environmental protection measures as a result of which it is considered a pristine international reference site for inland waters research. Our results showed the presence of three types of microplastics in a freshwater seasonal stream, namely four polyester fibers, one black and three transparent; two acrylic fibers, one transparent and one red; and two transparent polytetrafluoroethylene films. The length and width of these fibers and films were in the 400–3546 μm (average 1118 μm), and 10–1026 μm (average 199 μm) ranges respectively. The concentration of MP was 0.95 items/1000 m3 with estimated variability in the 0.47–1.43 items/1000 m3 range. This is the first report of the presence of microplastics in Antarctic freshwater with the uniqueness that it is an Antarctic Specially Protected Area, meaning that plastic pollution reached even the most remote and pristine environments in the planet. [Display omitted] •First detection of microplastics in freshwater from Antarctica•Microplastics detected in an Antarctic Specially Protected Area•Polyester and acrylic fibers and polytetrafluoroethylene films