Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to reduce the marine debris burden in the marine environment by 2020. This requires an assessment of the actual situation, which includes the occurrence as well as the caused impacts. Information on both is scarce when it comes to top predators lik...
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MDPI AG
2020
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410424 https://doaj.org/article/ae7cfa69a1ec44c787bf77e2ea8d23d3 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ae7cfa69a1ec44c787bf77e2ea8d23d3 2023-05-15T17:58:57+02:00 Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters Carolin Philipp Bianca Unger Elke K. Fischer Joseph G. Schnitzler Ursula Siebert 2020-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410424 https://doaj.org/article/ae7cfa69a1ec44c787bf77e2ea8d23d3 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/24/10424 https://doaj.org/toc/2071-1050 doi:10.3390/su122410424 2071-1050 https://doaj.org/article/ae7cfa69a1ec44c787bf77e2ea8d23d3 Sustainability, Vol 12, Iss 10424, p 10424 (2020) microplastic plastic isolation plastic ingestion gastrointestinal tract marine mammals Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410424 2022-12-31T15:10:07Z The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to reduce the marine debris burden in the marine environment by 2020. This requires an assessment of the actual situation, which includes the occurrence as well as the caused impacts. Information on both is scarce when it comes to top predators like marine mammals and the burden of microplastic. This is hampered by the limited access to free ranging marine mammals for collecting samples, as well as sample handling. The present study investigated gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) regularly occurring in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea with the aim of gaining information on the occurrence of microplastics. In total, 255 particles ≥100 µm (70 fibres, 185 fragments) were found in exemplary ten intestine and nine faecal samples. The findings ranged from zero fibres and six fragments, up to 35 fibres and 55 fragments per sample. Additionally, this study established a protocol for sample handling, microplastic isolation (≥100 µm) and quantification of gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of marine mammals with a low share of contamination. This approach helps to quantify the presence of microplastics in free-ranging marine mammals and is therefore applicable to assess the real burden of microplastic presence in the marine environment. Article in Journal/Newspaper Phoca vitulina Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Sustainability 12 24 10424 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
microplastic plastic isolation plastic ingestion gastrointestinal tract marine mammals Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
spellingShingle |
microplastic plastic isolation plastic ingestion gastrointestinal tract marine mammals Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Carolin Philipp Bianca Unger Elke K. Fischer Joseph G. Schnitzler Ursula Siebert Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters |
topic_facet |
microplastic plastic isolation plastic ingestion gastrointestinal tract marine mammals Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to reduce the marine debris burden in the marine environment by 2020. This requires an assessment of the actual situation, which includes the occurrence as well as the caused impacts. Information on both is scarce when it comes to top predators like marine mammals and the burden of microplastic. This is hampered by the limited access to free ranging marine mammals for collecting samples, as well as sample handling. The present study investigated gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of harbour seals ( Phoca vitulina ) and grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) regularly occurring in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea with the aim of gaining information on the occurrence of microplastics. In total, 255 particles ≥100 µm (70 fibres, 185 fragments) were found in exemplary ten intestine and nine faecal samples. The findings ranged from zero fibres and six fragments, up to 35 fibres and 55 fragments per sample. Additionally, this study established a protocol for sample handling, microplastic isolation (≥100 µm) and quantification of gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of marine mammals with a low share of contamination. This approach helps to quantify the presence of microplastics in free-ranging marine mammals and is therefore applicable to assess the real burden of microplastic presence in the marine environment. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Carolin Philipp Bianca Unger Elke K. Fischer Joseph G. Schnitzler Ursula Siebert |
author_facet |
Carolin Philipp Bianca Unger Elke K. Fischer Joseph G. Schnitzler Ursula Siebert |
author_sort |
Carolin Philipp |
title |
Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters |
title_short |
Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters |
title_full |
Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters |
title_fullStr |
Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters |
title_full_unstemmed |
Handle with Care—Microplastic Particles in Intestine Samples of Seals from German Waters |
title_sort |
handle with care—microplastic particles in intestine samples of seals from german waters |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410424 https://doaj.org/article/ae7cfa69a1ec44c787bf77e2ea8d23d3 |
genre |
Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Sustainability, Vol 12, Iss 10424, p 10424 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/24/10424 https://doaj.org/toc/2071-1050 doi:10.3390/su122410424 2071-1050 https://doaj.org/article/ae7cfa69a1ec44c787bf77e2ea8d23d3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410424 |
container_title |
Sustainability |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
24 |
container_start_page |
10424 |
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1766167670571401216 |