TY - JOUR
T1 - Seagrass beds reveal high abundance of microplastic in sediments
T2 - A case study in the Baltic Sea
AU - Kreitsberg, Randel
AU - Raudna-Kristoffersen, Merilin
AU - Heinlaan, Margit
AU - Ward, Raymond
AU - Visnapuu, Meeri
AU - Kisand, Vambola
AU - Meitern, Richard
AU - Kotta, Jonne
AU - Tuvikene, Arvo
PY - 2021/4/30
Y1 - 2021/4/30
N2 - Microplastic (MPL) contamination in the marine environment is extensively studied yet little is known about the extent of MPL abundance in seagrass beds. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPL accumulation in coastal seagrass (Zostera marina) beds in the Baltic Sea, Estonia. Surface water was sampled by pumping using 40 μm plankton net, and sediments by trowel. MPL was extracted with NaCl, identified by microscopy and ATR-FTIR on selected samples. Surface water in the seagrass beds had 0.04–1.2 (median 0.14) MPL/L, similar to other areas of the Baltic Sea. Sediments had 0–1817 (median 208) MPL/kg (dwt), much higher than previously recorded from adjacent unvegetated and offshore sediments, thereby suggesting a strong ability of the sediments in seagrass beds to retain MPL. Of identified MPL, blue fibres were dominant in both the sampled media. Sedimentcharacterization showed a correlation between MPL counts with poorly sorted sediments.
AB - Microplastic (MPL) contamination in the marine environment is extensively studied yet little is known about the extent of MPL abundance in seagrass beds. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPL accumulation in coastal seagrass (Zostera marina) beds in the Baltic Sea, Estonia. Surface water was sampled by pumping using 40 μm plankton net, and sediments by trowel. MPL was extracted with NaCl, identified by microscopy and ATR-FTIR on selected samples. Surface water in the seagrass beds had 0.04–1.2 (median 0.14) MPL/L, similar to other areas of the Baltic Sea. Sediments had 0–1817 (median 208) MPL/kg (dwt), much higher than previously recorded from adjacent unvegetated and offshore sediments, thereby suggesting a strong ability of the sediments in seagrass beds to retain MPL. Of identified MPL, blue fibres were dominant in both the sampled media. Sedimentcharacterization showed a correlation between MPL counts with poorly sorted sediments.
KW - Blue fibre
KW - Marine pollution
KW - Microlitter
KW - Sediment
KW - Water
KW - Zostera marina
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105895378&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112417
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112417
M3 - Article
VL - 168
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
SN - 0025-326X
M1 - 112417
ER -