Textile microfibers in wild Antarctic whelk Neobuccinum eatoni (Smith, 1875) from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). 2023

E Bergami, and E Ferrari, and M G J Löder, and G Birarda, and C Laforsch, and L Vaccari, and I Corsi
Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: elisa.bergami@unimore.it.

Antarctica has been affected directly and indirectly by human pressure for more than two centuries and recently plastic pollution has been recognized as a further potential threat for its unique biodiversity. Global long-range transport as well as local input from anthropogenic activities are potential sources of plastic pollution in both terrestrial and marine Antarctic territories. The present study evaluated the presence of microplastics in specimens of the Antarctic whelk Neobuccinum eatoni, a key species in benthic communities of the Ross Sea, one of the largest marine protected areas worldwide. To this aim, a thermo-oxidative extraction method was applied for microplastic isolation and quantification, and polymer identification was performed by manual μ-FTIR spectroscopy. Textile (semi-)synthetic or composite microfibers (length range: 0.8-5.7 mm) were found in 27.3% of whelk specimens, suggesting a low risk of bioaccumulation along Antarctic benthic food webs in the Ross Sea. Their polymer composition (of polyethylene terephthalate and cellulose-polyamide composites) matched those of outdoor technical clothing in use by the personnel of the Italian "Mario Zucchelli" station near Terra Nova Bay in the Ross Sea. Such findings indicate that sewage from base stations may act as potential local sources of textile microplastic fibers in this remote environment. More in-depth monitoring studies aiming at defining the extent of microplastic contamination related to such sources in Antarctica are encouraged.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010969 Plastics Polymeric materials (usually organic) of large molecular weight which can be shaped by flow. Plastic usually refers to the final product with fillers, plasticizers, pigments, and stabilizers included (versus the resin, the homogeneous polymeric starting material). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Plastic
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000080545 Microplastics Plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in diameter, that are generated from the degradation of larger pieces or are manufactured to be microstructures or smaller. Mesoplastics,Plastic Microparticles,Plastic Nanoparticles,Mesoplastic,Microparticle, Plastic,Microparticles, Plastic,Microplastic,Nanoparticle, Plastic,Nanoparticles, Plastic,Plastic Microparticle,Plastic Nanoparticle
D000864 Antarctic Regions The continent lying around the South Pole and the southern waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It includes the Falkland Islands Dependencies. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p55) Antarctic Region,Southern Pacific Ocean,Antarctic,Antarctica
D013784 Textiles Filament or fiber, or the materials generated from them by weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, tufting, or felting such as yarn, thread, cording, rope, netting, lace, or sheets of cloth or fabric. Textile
D061006 Bays An area of water mostly surrounded by land, usually smaller than a gulf, and affording access to the sea. Inlets,Bay,Inlet

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