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Main Authors: Alcauza, María B, Rodil, Iván Franco, Manzano, Sandra, Quintana, Rocío, Caselles, Carmen Morales
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Marine pollution bulletin 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41558451/
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author Alcauza, María B
Rodil, Iván Franco
Manzano, Sandra
Quintana, Rocío
Caselles, Carmen Morales
author_facet Alcauza, María B
Rodil, Iván Franco
Manzano, Sandra
Quintana, Rocío
Caselles, Carmen Morales
Alcauza, María B
Rodil, Iván Franco
Manzano, Sandra
Quintana, Rocío
Caselles, Carmen Morales
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediments at Deception Island, Antarctica. Alcauza, María B Rodil, Iván Franco Manzano, Sandra Quintana, Rocío Caselles, Carmen Morales Microplastics Antarctic Regions Geologic Sediments Environmental Monitoring Seashore Water Pollutants, Chemical Islands Microplastic contamination is a well-recognized threat to marine ecosystems, yet its occurrence in remote regions, such as Antarctica, remains poorly documented. This study presents a preliminary assessment of microplastics in intertidal sediments from beaches on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Surface sediment samples were collected from the upper intertidal zone and processed using Sediment Microplastic Isolation (SMI) units. Polymer composition was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while particle morphology and color were analyzed using ImageJ-Fiji software. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 2.22 to 31.09 items·kg, with the highest value recorded at Whalers Bay. Polyethylene (PE, 40.83%) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 28.57%) were the most abundant polymers. Fragments dominated (73.91%), followed by films (21.74%), and particle sizes ranged from 0.24 to 0.50 mm (mean ± SD: 1.29 ± 0.42 mm). Amber, green, and grey were the most frequent colors. No significant correlation was observed between microplastic abundance and sediment grain size. These results provide the first evidence of microplastics in the intertidal zone of Deception Island, establishing a baseline for future monitoring and contributing to a broader understanding of plastic contamination in Antarctic coastal environments.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41558451
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Marine pollution bulletin
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediments at Deception Island, Antarctica.
Alcauza, María B
Rodil, Iván Franco
Manzano, Sandra
Quintana, Rocío
Caselles, Carmen Morales
Microplastics
Antarctic Regions
Geologic Sediments
Environmental Monitoring
Seashore
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Islands
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediments at Deception Island, Antarctica. Alcauza, María B Rodil, Iván Franco Manzano, Sandra Quintana, Rocío Caselles, Carmen Morales Microplastics Antarctic Regions Geologic Sediments Environmental Monitoring Seashore Water Pollutants, Chemical Islands Microplastic contamination is a well-recognized threat to marine ecosystems, yet its occurrence in remote regions, such as Antarctica, remains poorly documented. This study presents a preliminary assessment of microplastics in intertidal sediments from beaches on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Surface sediment samples were collected from the upper intertidal zone and processed using Sediment Microplastic Isolation (SMI) units. Polymer composition was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while particle morphology and color were analyzed using ImageJ-Fiji software. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 2.22 to 31.09 items·kg, with the highest value recorded at Whalers Bay. Polyethylene (PE, 40.83%) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 28.57%) were the most abundant polymers. Fragments dominated (73.91%), followed by films (21.74%), and particle sizes ranged from 0.24 to 0.50 mm (mean ± SD: 1.29 ± 0.42 mm). Amber, green, and grey were the most frequent colors. No significant correlation was observed between microplastic abundance and sediment grain size. These results provide the first evidence of microplastics in the intertidal zone of Deception Island, establishing a baseline for future monitoring and contributing to a broader understanding of plastic contamination in Antarctic coastal environments.
title Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediments at Deception Island, Antarctica.
topic Microplastics
Antarctic Regions
Geologic Sediments
Environmental Monitoring
Seashore
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Islands
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41558451/