Citizen scientists uncover microplastic pollution presence on Arctic beaches

31 Jul 2023 --- Researchers employed citizens participating in tourist cruises to sample beach sediments during shore visits to Svalbard, Norway. The observers analyzed 53 samples from 23 beaches for plastic particles less than or equal to 1 mm to determine microplastic contamination levels on Arctic beaches. 

Following drying, sieving, and visual inspection of samples under a binocular microscope, putative plastic particles ≥1 mm were found in two samples containing six polyester-epoxide particles and 4920 PP fibers.

“One of the main reasons for the importance of our study is the fact that we still know relatively little about pollution levels in the Arctic, although the Arctic appears to be an accumulation zone for plastic pollution with pollution levels increasing rapidly,” the scientists state in their study.

“We recommend that future citizen-science campaigns monitor macroplastic and take samples for microplastic pollution assessments in the Arctic using systematic sampling approaches.”

The study, published in the journal Frontiers, details that the mean pollution levels in the samples analyzed by the researchers could be the result of several conditions: Exclusion of particulate matter bigger than 1 mm, sampling design limitations to one sample per beach, coarse sediment types and the remoteness of Svalbard.

Characteristics of 23 locations in Svalbard, Norway, where citizens scientists took sediment samples to be analyzed for microplastics.Arctic protection
Over six years, the citizen scientists collected 91377.7 g and 53200 mL of sediment. “Although only two out of 53 samples from Svalbard beaches contained plastic particles ≥1 mm, this result supports the observation that meso- and microplastics have invaded the remotest places on Earth,” the researchers write.

In another study, the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) recently reported that one-third of the plastic debris found in the Arctic bore imprints or labels from Europe, with 8% of the total identifiable waste coming from Germany. Besides Europe, experts found debris from Brazil, China and the US.

“I know this is not good news for the packaging industry, but we have to produce less new plastic,” AWI researcher Dr. Melanie Bergmann shared with Packaging Insights. She further stated that products should consist of single polymer types and declared non-toxic chemicals. 

Microplastic epidemic 
In May, researchers from the University of Vienna, Austria, revealed that microplastics might enter human brains after surveilling mice’s reaction to ingesting microplastics. 

The researchers performed short-term studies in mice with orally administered polystyrene (PS) micro- and nano-particles. The nanometer-sized particles reached the brain within two hours after consumption. 

The research focused on microplastic-contaminated drinking water. PS, a common plastic in food packaging, was given to the mice through laced water. The scientists report that exposure to nanoplastics in the brain could harm human health and cognitive functions. 

The European Commission, in April, voted to adopt proposals on restricting intentionally added microplastics in products, including packaging, cosmetics and astroturf, through its Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation. 

Each year, more than 42,000 metric tons of microparticles leak into the environment, resulting in various threats to human and environmental health, according to the European Environment Agency. 

Edited by Radhika Sikaria