Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:110

Article

Ballent, Anika¹  Corcoran, Patricia L.¹  Madden, Odile²  Helm, Paul A.³  Longstaffe, Fred J.¹ 

[1] Univ Western Ontario, Dept Earth Sci, 1151 Richmond St N, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada

[2] Smithsonian Inst, Museum Conservat Inst, 4210 Silver Hill Rd, Suitland, MD 20746 USA

[3] Ontario Minist Environm & Climate Change, Environm Monitoring & Reporting Branch, 125 Resources Rd, Toronto, ON M9P 3V6, Canada

关键词: Microplastics;    Lake Ontario;    Sediments;    Raman spectroscopy;    Nearshore;    Watershed;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.037

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Microplastics contamination of Lake Ontario sediments is investigated with the aim of identifying distribution patterns and hotspots in nearshore, tributary and beach depositional environments. Microplastics are concentrated in nearshore sediments in the vicinity of urban and industrial regions. In Humber Bay and Toronto Harbour microplastic concentrations were consistently >500 particles per kg dry sediment. Maximum concentrations of similar to 28,000 particles per kg dry sediment were determined in Etobicoke Creek. The microplastic particles were primarily fibres and fragments <2 mm in size. Both low- and high-density plastics were identified using Raman spectroscopy. We provide a baseline for future monitoring and discuss potential sources of microplastics in terms of how and where to implement preventative measures to reduce the contaminant influx. Although the impacts of microplastics contamination on ecosystem health and functioning is uncertain, understanding, monitoring and preventing further microplastics contamination in Lake Ontario and the other Great Lakes is crucial. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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