East Asian seas: A hot spot of pelagic microplastics

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 101; no. 2; pp. 618 - 623
• Main Authors: Isobe, Atsuhiko, Uchida, Keiichi, Tokai, Tadashi, Iwasaki, Shinsuke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 30.12.2015
• Subjects: China; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Field survey; Japan; Marine; Mesoplastics; Microplastics; Oceans and Seas; Plastics - analysis; Seasons; Total particle count; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; China; Japan; INW, Huanghai Sea; INW, Donghai Sea; IN, North Pacific; INW, Japan; Total particle count; Field survey; Microplastics; Mesoplastics
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.042

To investigate concentrations of pelagic micro- (<5mm in size) and mesoplastics (>5mm) in the East Asian seas around Japan, field surveys using two vessels were conducted concurrently in summer 2014. The total particle count (pieceskm−2) was computed based on observed concentrations (piecesm−3) of small plastic fragments (both micro- and mesoplastics) collected using neuston nets. The total particle count of microplastics within the study area was 1,720,000pieceskm−2, 16 times greater than in the North Pacific and 27 times greater than in the world oceans. The proportion of mesoplastics increased upstream of the northeastward ocean currents, such that the small plastic fragments collected in the present surveys were considered to have originated in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea southwest of the study area. [Display omitted] •Surface net tows were conducted around Japan to quantify plastic pollution levels in East Asian seas.•Microplastic particle count was computed by vertical integration of concentrations.•Total particle count of microplastics was estimated at 1,720,000pieceskm−2.•This count is 16 (27) times greater than in the North Pacific (world oceans).