Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Woldwide: Sources and Sinks

被引:3368
作者
Browne, Mark Anthony [1 ,2 ,3 ]
Crump, Phillip [4 ]
Niven, Stewart J. [3 ,5 ]
Teuten, Emma [3 ]
Tonkin, Andrew [4 ]
Galloway, Tamara [6 ]
Thompson, Richard [3 ]
机构
[1] Univ Coll Dublin, Sch Biol & Environm Sci, Sci Ctr W, Dublin 4, Ireland
[2] Univ Sydney, Ctr Res Ecol Impacts Coastal Cities, Sch Biol Sci A11, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
[3] Univ Plymouth, Sch Marine Sci & Engn, Marine Biol & Ecol Res Grp, Plymouth PL4 8AA, Devon, England
[4] Univ Plymouth, Sch Marine Sci & Engn, Marine Biol & Ecol Res Grp, Plymouth PL4 8AA, Devon, England
[5] Waters Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
[6] Univ Exeter, Coll Life & Environm Sci, Sch Biosci, Exeter EX4 4PS, Devon, England
关键词
MARINE-SEDIMENTS; PLASTICS; TRANSPORT; POLLUTION; ENVIRONMENT; CHEMICALS; FIBERS; FATE;
D O I
10.1021/es201811s
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
Plastic debris < 1 mm (defined here as microplastic) is accumulating in marine habitats. Ingestion of microplastic provides a potential pathway for the transfer of pollutants, monomers, and plastic-additives to organisms with uncertain consequences for their health. Here, we show that microplastic contaminates the shorelines at 18 sites worldwide representing six continents from the poles to the equator, with more material in densely populated areas, but no clear relationship between the abundance of miocroplastics and the mean size-distribution of natural particulates. An important source of microplastic appears to be through sewage contaminated by fibers from washing clothes. Forensic evaluation of microplastic from sediments showed that the proportions of polyester and acrylic fibers used in clothing resembled those found in habitats that receive sewage-discharges and sewage-effluent itself. Experiments sampling wastewater from domestic washing machines demonstrated that a single garment can produce > 1900 fibers per wash. This suggests that a large proportion of microplastic fibers found in the marine environment may be derived from sewage as a consequence of washing of clothes. As the human population grows and people use more synthetic textiles, contamination of habitats and animals by microplastic is likely to increase.
引用
收藏
页码:9175 / 9179
页数:5
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