Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Microplastic particles in the marine environment and the effects on wildlife, \nhuman and ecosystem health are just beginning to be understood in a global setting. The \npresence of microplastics particle in West Iceland are evaluated to determine if there is a \ndetectable gradient of decreasing plastic concentrations with increasing distance from the \nurban centres around Reykjavik. The study region includes sample sites within urban, \nsemi-rural and rural coastal settings, with 4 sites at each type of location being sampled. \nMicroplastic particles were found at 3 of the urban sites, 2 of the semi-rural sites and not \ndetected in any of the rural locations. It is concluded that a decreasing concentration \ngradient that is based solely on distance travelled from the urbanized area of Reykjavik \ndoes not exist due to patchy distributions that could be the result of strong influences \nfrom ocean currents and offshore activities.
Source: Skemman
Author: Benjamin Dippo
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2285693693