Microplastics in surface seawater of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Arctic

Abstract

Microplastics have now become an emerging contaminant with high concern in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Region. Here, the Kongsfjorden system in the Arctic has been investigated for abundance, distribution, and characteristic of microplastics in surface seawater. Eighteen samples were collected using an in-situ filtration sampling method, and then analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The average abundance of microplastics in surface seawater was 3.6 items m⁻³, with an abundance range of 0.0—10.0 items m⁻³. The highest abundance of microplastics was located adjacent to the eddy in Kongsfjorden, where a microplastic accumulation zone might have formed. Microplastics transported by ocean currents and those from local discharges might converge in this zone. Two sampling stations were set up at the wastewater treatment plant outfall, which showed an abundance range of 4.0—6.0 items m⁻³, slightly higher than the average abundance. Of the six polymer types identified, rayon, polyester and polyamide were the most common composition. Proportions in fiber form in surface water was 84.6 %, and blue (28.2 %) and transparent (25.6 %) were predominant colors. Most microplastics (>90.0 %) were less than 1 mm in the longest dimension. This study provided important baseline data as well as a practical microplastic sampling method for polar marine environments.