Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk

Abstract Sea ice is regarded as a temporal sink and carrier of microplastics (MPs). Nevertheless, knowledge and understanding of MPs in sea ice remain sparse. This study investigated the abundance, composition, size (> 30 μm), and shape of MPs in four sea-ice cores retrieved at the southern end o...

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Main Authors: Hiroshi Ohno, Yoshinori Iizuka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78108-9
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author Hiroshi Ohno
Yoshinori Iizuka
author_facet Hiroshi Ohno
Yoshinori Iizuka
author_sort Hiroshi Ohno
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sea ice is regarded as a temporal sink and carrier of microplastics (MPs). Nevertheless, knowledge and understanding of MPs in sea ice remain sparse. This study investigated the abundance, composition, size (> 30 μm), and shape of MPs in four sea-ice cores retrieved at the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk. Nine microplastic (MP) types, mostly with fragmentary shapes, were detected among ice-core sections. Most fragmentary MPs were smaller than 120 μm, but all fiber MPs were in the largest size class (> 210 μm). MP concentrations were 0–60 particles/L, with an average of 21 particles/L. Higher occurrences of MPs observed in the lower ice layers are attributable to heavier MP contamination in the southern part of the sea and/or relocation of MPs in the ice matrix. No significant correlation was found between the distributions of MP and inorganic particle (sediment) abundances, implying difference in their kinetics of suspension freezing. Taken together, these findings suggest important implications for elucidating the nature and distribution of MPs in sea ice.
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spelling doaj-art-ccf0fc6abd49454c8eee0666b2b568462025-08-20T02:49:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-78108-9Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of OkhotskHiroshi Ohno0Yoshinori Iizuka1Kitami Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido UniversityAbstract Sea ice is regarded as a temporal sink and carrier of microplastics (MPs). Nevertheless, knowledge and understanding of MPs in sea ice remain sparse. This study investigated the abundance, composition, size (> 30 μm), and shape of MPs in four sea-ice cores retrieved at the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk. Nine microplastic (MP) types, mostly with fragmentary shapes, were detected among ice-core sections. Most fragmentary MPs were smaller than 120 μm, but all fiber MPs were in the largest size class (> 210 μm). MP concentrations were 0–60 particles/L, with an average of 21 particles/L. Higher occurrences of MPs observed in the lower ice layers are attributable to heavier MP contamination in the southern part of the sea and/or relocation of MPs in the ice matrix. No significant correlation was found between the distributions of MP and inorganic particle (sediment) abundances, implying difference in their kinetics of suspension freezing. Taken together, these findings suggest important implications for elucidating the nature and distribution of MPs in sea ice.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78108-9
spellingShingle Hiroshi Ohno
Yoshinori Iizuka
Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
Scientific Reports
title Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
title_full Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
title_fullStr Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
title_full_unstemmed Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
title_short Microplastics in sea ice drifted to the Shiretoko Peninsula, the southern end of the Sea of Okhotsk
title_sort microplastics in sea ice drifted to the shiretoko peninsula the southern end of the sea of okhotsk
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78108-9
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AT yoshinoriiizuka microplasticsinseaicedriftedtotheshiretokopeninsulathesouthernendoftheseaofokhotsk