You are here:
The distribution of sediment microplastics assemblages is driven by location and hydrodynamics, not sediment characteristics, in the Gulf of Maine, USA
Citation:
Langknecht, T., M. Pelletier, S. Robinson, Robert M. Burgess, AND Kay T. Ho. The distribution of sediment microplastics assemblages is driven by location and hydrodynamics, not sediment characteristics, in the Gulf of Maine, USA. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 202(May 2024):116393, (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116393
Impact/Purpose:
Very small pieces of plastic called 'microplastics' are found in marine environments, including sediments, across the globe. However, we are just beginning to understand the spatial distribution and composition of these microplastics. In this study, we measured microplastics in Gulf of Maine sediments. We detected 27 microplastic types and an average of 1929 pieces of microplastic per Kg wet sediment. Comparison of the microplastic compositions (i.e., types of plastics in a given sample) with site specific information highlighted the importance of local habitat (i.e., sandy versus muddy), water flow, type of nearby land use (i.e., marinas, roads), and sediment characteristics (i.e., amounts of sand and organic carbon).
Description:
Microplastics (MP) are found in marine sediments across the globe, but we are just beginning to understand their spatial distribution and assemblages. In this study, we quantified MP in Gulf of Maine, USA sediments. MP were extracted from 20 sediment samples, followed by polymer identification using Raman spectroscopy. We detected 27 polymer types and 1929 MP kg−1 wet sediment, on average. Statistical analyses showed that habitat, hydrodynamics, and station proximity were more important drivers of MP assemblages than land use or sediment characteristics. Stations closer to one another were more similar in their MP assemblages, tidal rivers had higher numbers of unique plastic polymers than open water or embayment stations, and stations closer to shore had higher numbers of MP. There was little evidence of relationships between MP assemblages and land use, sediment texture, total organic carbon, or contaminants.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: The distribution of sediment microplastics assemblages is driven by location and hydrodynamics, not sediment characteristics, in the Gulf of Maine, USA