Scientists have discovered synthetic plastic fibres in air, seawater, sediment and sea ice sampled in the Antarctic Weddell Sea.
- The results of the research collectively demonstrate the vital importance of reducing plastic pollution globally.
- The field research was undertaken during an expedition to discover Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance.
- The paper, titled ‘The transport and fate of microplastic fibres in the Antarctic: The role of multiple global processes’, has been published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
The Shockers: Fibrous polyesters, primarily from textiles, were found in all samples.
- The majority of microplastic fibres identified were found in the Antarctic air samples, revealing that Antarctic animals and seabirds could be breathing them.
- A modelling analysis of air trajectories revealed that areas with higher numbers of fibres were associated with winds coming from southern South America.
- The discovery reveals that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the associated polar front is not, as previously thought, acting as an impenetrable barrier which would have prevented microplastics from entering the Antarctic region.
- The concentration of microplastics was also discovered by the team to be far higher in sea ice than in other sample types.
- Research indicates that microplastics are being trapped during the creation of the sea-ice layer every year.
The Project: The scientific and forensic experts at Nekton’s Oxford University and collaborating laboratories (Staffordshire University, University of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela University) used a range of investigative methods to analyse the samples in the study.
- These include optical (Polarised Light Microscopy), chemical (Raman Spectrometry) investigative technologies and even a specialist adhesive “crime scene” tape to identify the polymer type.
- The modelling analysis used a method called Air Mass Back Trajectory analysis.
Call for Policymakers: The findings add urgency for a binding, globally agreed treaty to prevent microplastics from entering the environment, particularly oceans. Ahead of a new Global Plastic Treaty discussions in Uruguay, they have urged policymakers to:
- Reduce plastic pollution and production globally, by creating a robust global plastics treaty that builds on national and regional initiatives;
- Align plastic reduction actions with natural and societal targets to achieve multiple positive outcomes for society;
- Empower local communities to co-develop and use programmes that support full life-cycle solutions to plastic waste management.
Role of Individuals: Concerned individuals can also play their part by adopting simple lifestyle habits to reduce synthetic microfibre pollution. These include:
- Fill your washing machine: more space to move around in the wash results in microfibres falling off.
- Wash at 30C: gentle cycles and lower temperatures decreases microfibre shedding.
- Ditch the dryer: tumble dryers generate about 40 times more microfibres than washing machines.
- Microfibre capture for washing machines, e.g. GuppyFriend or Coraball.
- Choose natural fibres, e.g. organic natural fibres like cotton, linen, hemp.
- Avoid microfibre cleaning cloths - use natural alternatives.
- Wash textiles less!
What They Remarked:
The issue of microplastic fibres is also an airborne problem reaching even the last remaining pristine environments on our planet. Synthetic fibres are the most prevalent form of microplastic pollution globally and tackling this issue must be at the heart of the Plastic Treaty negotiations.
— Professor Lucy Woodall
Nekton Principal Scientist
University of Oxford
Ocean currents and winds are the vectors for plastic pollution to travel across the globe and even to the remotest corners of the world. The transboundary nature of microplastics pollution provides more evidence for the urgency and importance of a strong international plastic pollution treaty.
— Nuria Rico Seijo
Nekton Research Scientist
University of Oxford
Sea ice is mobile, can travel vast distances and reach the permanent ice shelves of the Antarctica continent where it can be trapped indefinitely with its gathered microplastic pollutants. We believe the acquisition of microplastics in the multi-year sea ice combined with its seasonal changes could also be considered a temporary sink and one of the main transporters of microplastics within the Antarctic region.
— Dr Mánus Cunningham
Nekton Research Scientist
University of Oxford
Our use of forensic science approaches had two important benefits; improved methods for both the reduction and monitoring of possible procedural contamination in the samples, and also more detailed characterisation of the microplastics, beyond just polymer type, allowing for better understanding of the number of possible sources.
— Professor Claire Gwinnett
Staffordshire University
