Microplastic accumulation in benthic invertebrates in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

• Published in: Environment International
• Main Authors: Sfriso A. A., Tomio Y., Rosso B., Gambaro A., Sfriso A., Corami F., Rastelli E., Corinaldesi C., Mistri M., Munari C.
• Other Authors: Sfriso, A. A., Tomio, Y., Rosso, B., Gambaro, A., Sfriso, A., Corami, F., Rastelli, E., Corinaldesi, C., Mistri, M., Munari, C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Antarctica; Bentho; Food web; FTIR; Microplastic; Nile red; Animal; Antarctic Region; Bay; Environmental Monitoring; Invertebrate; Water Pollutants; Chemical; Settore BIO/07 - Ecologia; Antarctic; Ross Sea; Terra Nova Bay; Mario Zucchelli; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10278/3730231; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105587

Microplastic contamination of the benthic invertebrate fauna in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) was determined. Twelve macrobenthic species, characterized by different feeding strategies, were selected at 3 sampling sites at increasing distance from the Italian Scientific Base (Mario Zucchelli, Camp Icarus, Adelie Cove). The 83% of the analyzed macrobenthic species contained microplastics (0.01–3.29 items mg−1). The size of the particles, measured by Feret diameter, ranged from 33 to 1000 μm with the highest relative abundance between 50 and 100 μm. Filter-feeders and grazers displayed values of microplastic contamination from 3 to 5 times higher than omnivores and predators, leading to the hypothesis that there is no evident bioaccumulation through the food web. The prevalent polymers identified by micro-FTIR were nylon (86%) and polyethylene (5%); other polymers identified in Antarctic benthos were polytetrafluoroethylene, polyoxymethylene, phenolic resin, polypropylene, polystyrene resin and XT polymer.