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Cited by 795

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 14 of the 14 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research

Open access
Waller, Catherine L., Griffiths, Huw J., Waluda, Claire M., Thorpe, Sally E., Loaiza, Iván, Moreno, Bernabé, Pacherres, Cesar O., Hughes, Kevin A.·2017·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

It was thought that the Southern Ocean was relatively free of microplastic contamination; however, recent studies and citizen science projects in the Southern Ocean have reported microplastics in deep-sea sediments and surface waters. Here we reviewed available information on microplastics (including macroplastics as a source of microplastics) in the Southern Ocean. We estimated primary microplastic concentrations from personal care products and laundry, and identified potential sources and routes of transmission into the region. Estimates showed the levels of microplastic pollution released into the region from ships and scientific research stations were likely to be negligible at the scale of the Southern Ocean, but may be significant on a local scale. This was demonstrated by the detection of the first microplastics in shallow benthic sediments close to a number of research stations on King George Island. Furthermore, our predictions of primary microplastic concentrations from local sources were five orders of magnitude lower than levels reported in published sampling surveys (assuming an even dispersal at the ocean surface). Sea surface transfer from lower latitudes may contribute, at an as yet unknown level, to Southern Ocean plastic concentrations. Acknowledging the lack of data describing microplastic origins, concentrations, distribution and impacts in the Southern Ocean, we highlight the urgent need for research, and call for routine, standardised monitoring in the Antarctic marine system. • The Antarctic marine system is considered pristine compared to other regions. • Microplastics are present in Antarctic waters but available data are scarce. • Local sources of primary microplastic do not explain reported concentrations. • Plastic originating from outside the region may contribute to Antarctic pollution. • Standardised monitoring of microplastic in Antarctic waters is needed urgently.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.283

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Metadata

Authors
Waller, C. L., Griffiths, H. J., Waluda, C. M., Thorpe, S. E., Loaiza, I., Moreno, B., Pacherres, C. O., & Hughes, K. A.
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-11
Volume
598
Pages
220-227
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2607109283
Cited by
795
References
14
FWCI
23.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
hybrid

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.283
The paper
Waller, C. L., Griffiths, H. J., Waluda, C. M., Thorpe, S. E., Loaiza, I., Moreno, B., Pacherres, C. O., & Hughes, K. A. (2017). Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research. Science of The Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.283

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Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).

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