The power of multi-matrix monitoring in the Pan-Arctic region: plastics in water and sediment

Litter and microplastic assessments are being carried out worldwide. Arctic ecosystems are no exception and plastic pollution is high on the Arctic Council's agenda. Water and sediment have been identified as two of the priority compartments for monitoring plastics under the Arctic Monitoring a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arctic Science
Main Authors: Jake Martin, Maria Granberg, Jennifer F. Provencher, Max Liborion, Liz Pijogge, Kerstin Magnusson, Ingeborg G. Hallanger, Melanie Bergmann, Stefano Aliani, Alessio Gomiero, Bjørn Einar Grøsvik, Jesse Vermaire, Sebastian Primpke, Amy L. Lusher
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
French
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2022
Subjects:
environmental sampling
microplastic(s)
assessment
ecosystem
pollution
marine
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Environmental engineering
TA170-171
Arctic
AMAP
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2021-0056
https://doaj.org/article/446adf64c5e64d9090a43f2a9d63abab
Description
Summary:Litter and microplastic assessments are being carried out worldwide. Arctic ecosystems are no exception and plastic pollution is high on the Arctic Council's agenda. Water and sediment have been identified as two of the priority compartments for monitoring plastics under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). Recommendations for monitoring both compartments are presented in this publication. Alone, such samples can provide information on presence, fate, and potential impacts to ecosystems. Together, the quantification of microplastics in sediment and water from the same region produce a three-dimensional picture of plastics, not only a snapshot of floating or buoyant plastics in the surface water or water column but also a picture of the plastics reaching the shoreline or benthic sediments, in lakes, rivers, and the ocean. Assessment methodologies must be adapted to the ecosystems of interest to generate reliable data. In its current form, published data on plastic pollution in the Arctic is sporadic and collected using a wide spectrum of methods which limits the extent to which data can be compared. A harmonised and coordinated effort is needed to gather data on plastic pollution for the Pan-Arctic. Such information will aid in identifying priority regions and focusing mitigation efforts.

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