The observer effect is real! Microplastic contamination found in Antarctica was discovered by scientists who examined it from the comfort of their ship.
University of Basel experts filter 8,000,000 litres of water from Weddell Sea. This was done to identify the origins and extent of microplastic contamination.
A team of scientists examined 101 particles, finding that 98% were from their ships.
The findings suggest that shipping is a key driver of Antarctic plastic pollution, and highlight the need for a more environmentally-friendly marine paint, according to the team.
The observer effect is real! Microplastic contamination was found to be high in Antarctica. Experts were able to prove that the majority of it came from their vessel. Pictured: microplastic fragments filtered out of the Weddell Sea (bottom row) compared with reference chips of paint taken from the scientists’ own vessel, the RV Polarstern
University of Basel-led experts onboard the RV Polarstern (pictured) filtered some eight million litres of water from both the surface and subsurface of the remote Weddell Sea to determine the levels and origins of microplastic contamination
You don’t have to use microplastics with paint.
While the lion’s share of the particles the team collected were linked to marine paint — mainly from the RV Polarstern — these were not the only microplastics found.
Ms Leistenschneider and colleagues also found particles of polyamides, polyethylene and polypropylene in the waters of the Weddell Sea.
Although it’s impossible to know exactly the original uses of these fragments, they are used in packaging and fishing nets.
Most previous investigations into the extent of microplastic pollution in Antarctica had been conducted in relatively less remote areas — those with more people, research stations and shipping traffic.
Clara Leistenschneider (environmental scientist, University of Basel) and other colleagues carried out the latest study. They wanted to find out if lower concentrations could be found in the Weddell Sea.
The researchers undertook two expeditions to the area onboard the research vessel Polarstern — one in 2018, the next the following year — during which they took 34 samples of surface water and 79 subsurface samples for analysis.
The team filtered eight million litres seawater and found microplastics concentrations that were slightly higher than the ones in more populous parts of Africa.
‘This is the first time a study of this scope has been conducted in Antarctica,’ explained Ms Leistenschneider, adding that the study went further than just assessing microplastics concentrations in the Weddell Sea.
“It’s important to recognize the plastics that are in your products, to determine their origins. This will help you reduce microplastic emission from those sources.
Analysing the composition of the particles revealed that almost half (47%) of them were composed of marine paint binding agents.
The team noted that this suggests that the Southern Ocean is likely to be a major source of plastic pollution from shipping.
However, the researchers also noted that more than half of all the microplastic particles collected were visually similar to the ship paint used on the RV Polarstern.
The researchers undertook two expeditions to the area onboard the research vessel Polarstern — one in 2018, the next the following year — during which they took 34 samples of surface water (pictured — showing the plankton net used) and 79 subsurface samples for analysis
The team found that microplastics concentrations in seawater were slightly higher than the ones recorded in more populous areas of Africa. The concentrations of microplastics taken from the surface and subsurface with a pump (left)
Analysing the composition of collected particles revealed that almost half (47% to be exact) of them were composed of marine paint-binding plastics. Here is a picture of the breakdown of particle compositions
Ms. Leistenschneider said that a variety of methods are needed to establish the source of paint particles.
This is why the team decided to use X-ray fluorescence for identification of pigments.
To identify vehicles involved in hit and run collisions, forensic scientists employ a similar approach based on paint marks left behind.
After analysing 101 of the microplastic particles in this way, the team found that 89 per cent didn’t just look like they could have come from the RV Polarstern — they had, in fact, originated from the scientists’ own ship.
Researchers explained that previous studies have often excluded particles from the vessel they were using for research, but not analysed further.
Recent years have seen shipping traffic within the Southern Ocean progressively increasing — primarily as a result in an increase in fishing and tourism, but also as a result of an increase in research expeditions. Photo: A map of Antarctica showing the Weddell Strait.
Recent years have seen shipping traffic within the Southern Ocean progressively increasing — primarily as a result in an increase in fishing and tourism, but also as a result of an increase in research expeditions.
Given this, Ms Leistenschneider concluded, ‘developing alternative marine paint that is more durable and environmentally friendly would make it possible to reduce this source of microplastics and the harmful substances they contain.’
The full findings of the study were published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
According to the researchers, shipping traffic was a significant source of plastic pollution in the Southern Ocean. Pictured: in surface waters, the majority of microplastic particles filtered from the Weddell Sea were between 100–1,100 μm across
The researchers said that previous studies have often excluded particles from the vessel they were using for research, but not analysed further. Pictured: Professor Patricia Holm and Clara Leistenschneider pose of the deck of the RV Polarstern
What further research is needed to assess the spread and impact of MICROPLASTICS on society?
In its 2019 report, “Microplastics and Drinking Water”, the World Health Organisation identified many areas of research that may shed light on how widespread this problem is, what it might impact our health, and how we can stop them from getting into our drinking water.
What is the prevalence of microplastics in your country?
This research will clarify whether microplastics are present in freshwater or drinking water sources.
- To assess the human exposure to microplastics from drinking water, more data is needed.
- For studies on the occurrence of microplastics, they must employ quality-assured techniques to identify numbers, shapes and sizes of particles. It is important to determine whether the microplastics come from the freshwater environment, the extraction, treatment, distribution, and bottling or bottling. In the beginning, they should concentrate on water that is most vulnerable to contamination by particulates.
- Better data about freshwater would make it possible to quantify freshwater inputs and identify major sources. This could be useful for drinking-water studies. It may be necessary to develop reliable methods for identifying sources and tracking origins.
- It is necessary to have a standard set of methods for analysing and sampling microplastics in water and freshwater.
- The knowledge gaps surrounding nanoplastics and their effects on the aqua environment are significant. To address this problem, standard sampling methods and analysis of nanoplastics are needed.
Are there any health risks associated with microplastics
While water treatment may be effective in eliminating particles, data is not available for microplastics. These data gaps regarding water treatment must be filled in order to assist with human health risk assessments and management options.
- Further research is required to determine the fate of microplastics in different water and wastewater treatment systems (such clarification and oxidation), under different operational conditions, such as optimal and suboptimal operations and the impact of particle shape, size and chemical composition on the removal efficacy.
- We need to be able to identify the role of particle composition in water treatment and distribution. It is important to consider the role of microplastics in the water treatment system, and the contribution that microplastics make from these processes.
- Once standard techniques for nanoplastics have been developed, it is important to gain more knowledge about the existence and removal of these nanoplastic particles from water and wastewater treatment.
- We need to be able to see the interplay between microplastic concentrations and turbidity throughout treatment.
- It is important to research the impact of microplastics returning to the environment via sludge, and other treatment waste streams.
To better understand microplastic-associated biofilms and their significance, the following research could be carried out:
- Further studies could be conducted on the factors that influence the composition and potential specificity of microplastic-associated biofilms.
- Researchers could also examine the factors that influence biofilm formation on plastic surface, microplastics included, as well as how they vary between plastic materials and which organisms are more likely to bind to plastic surfaces when used in freshwater systems.
- It is possible to conduct research to understand how microplastics can transport pathogenic bacteria over longer distances, as well as the rate at which they are degraded in freshwater systems.
- The risk of horizontal transfer genes of antimicrobial resistant genes from plastisphere microorganisms to other biofilms like those in WWTPs could be considered in research.
Water treatment can stop microplastics getting into our water supplies
While water treatment may be effective in eliminating particles, data is not available for microplastics. These data gaps regarding water treatment must be filled in order to assist with human health risk assessments and management options.
- Further research is required to determine the fate of microplastics in different water and wastewater treatment systems (such clarification and oxidation), under different operational conditions, such as optimal and suboptimal operations and the impact of particle shape, size and chemical composition on the removal efficacy.
- We need to be able to identify the role of particle composition in water treatment and distribution. Consider the roles of microplastic disruption and abrasion within water treatment systems as well as microplastic contributions from actual processes.
- Once standard techniques for nanoplastics have been developed, it is important to gain more knowledge about the existence and removal of these nanoplastic particles from water and wastewater treatment.
- We need to be able to see the interplay between microplastic concentrations and turbidity throughout treatment.
- It is important to research the impact of microplastics returning to the environment via sludge, and other waste streams.
