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Incidence and identification of microfibers in ocean waters in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica

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Abstract

Antarctic pristine environment is threatened by the presence of microplastics that occur in a variety of shapes and sizes, from fibers to irregular fragments. The aim of this study is to assess the abundance, distribution, and the characterization of the microfibers in zooplankton samples found in ocean waters in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. The samples were collected at five points in Admiralty Bay during the XXIX Brazilian Antarctic Expedition in the austral summer of 2010–2011. A total of 603 microfibers were collected in 60 samples, with an average abundance of 2.40 (± 4.57) microfibers 100 m−3. Microfiber size ranging from ca. 10 to 22 μm in diameter of various lengths and colors (blue, red, black, and clear) was collected and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Most of these microfibers were entangled in various different zooplankton species and were identified as polymers composed mostly by polyethyleneglycols, polyurethanes, polyethylene terephthalates, and polyamides. The presence of such microfibers may cause the loss of biodiversity in the Antarctic continent, and the results presented herein can contribute to a better understanding of the impact caused by them within the food chain and human health.

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Acknowledgements

The authors also acknowledge the support of the Brazilian Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), of Environment (MMA) and Inter-Ministry Commission for Sea Resources (CIRM). We also thank the CME (Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica, UFPR) for SEM and Raman analyses. Special thanks are due to Yasmin Baddouh, A.S. from Hillsborough Community College, Florida, USA, for the English revision.

Funding

This work is sponsored by the National Institute of Science and Technology Antarctic Environmental Research (INCT-APA) that receives scientific and financial support from the National Council for Research and Development (CNPq process: no. 574018/2008-5) and Carlos Chagas Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ no. E-16/170.023/2008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Beira-Mar, s/n. Caixa Postal: 50.002, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, CEP 83255-971, Brazil

    Theresinha Monteiro Absher, Silvio Luiz Ferreira, Yargos Kern & Augusto Luiz Ferreira Jr

  2. Departamento de Biologia Geral–DEBIO, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa–UEPG, Av. General Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, CEP 84030-900, Brazil

    Augusto Luiz Ferreira Jr & Susete Wambier Christo

  3. Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, 748, São Paulo, São Paulo, B4T–CEP 05508-000, Brazil

    Rômulo Augusto Ando

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  1. Theresinha Monteiro Absher
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  2. Silvio Luiz Ferreira
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  3. Yargos Kern
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  4. Augusto Luiz Ferreira Jr
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  5. Susete Wambier Christo
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  6. Rômulo Augusto Ando
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Correspondence to Theresinha Monteiro Absher or Rômulo Augusto Ando.

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Absher, T.M., Ferreira, S.L., Kern, Y. et al. Incidence and identification of microfibers in ocean waters in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 292–298 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3509-6

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