Work

Microplastics in the Weddell Sea (Antarctica): A Forensic Approach for Discrimination between Environmental and Vessel-Induced Microplastics

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: = 101) with similar ATR-FTIR spectra to reference paints from the research vessel and fresh paint references generated in the laboratory were further subjected to micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μXRF) to compare their elemental composition. This revealed that 45.5% of all recovered MP derived from vessel-induced contamination. However, 11% of the measured fragments could be distinguished from the reference paints via their elemental composition. This study demonstrates that differentiation based purely on visual characteristics and FTIR spectroscopy might not be sufficient for accurately determining sample contamination sources.

Source: Environmental Science & Technology

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05207

Authors: Clara Leistenschneider, Patricia Burkhardt-Holm, Thomas Mani, Sebastian Primpke, Heidi Taubner, Gunnar Gerdts

Institutions: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, University of Basel, University of Bremen

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,000