Issue 11, 2021

Micro- and nanoplastic transfer in freezing saltwater: implications for their fate in polar waters

Abstract

Plastic debris accumulates in the Arctic by way of oceanic and atmospheric circulation. High concentrations of microplastics (1 μm to 5 mm) have been measured, and nanoplastics (<1 μm) are expected to be abundant as well. However, little is known about the mobility of micro- and nanoplastics at the seawater/ice interface. This study investigates the fate of micro- and nanoplastics during sea-ice formation. A novel experimental approach simulates the growth of sea ice by progressively freezing a saline solution. After different durations of freezing, the concentrations of NaCl, natural organic matter, microplastics, and nanoplastics were measured in the ice and liquid. Micro- and nanoplastic distribution coefficients between saltwater and ice were determined, reflecting their behavior during congelation sea-ice growth. The results show that microplastics are retained in ice while nanoplastics are expulsed from it. Furthermore, natural organic matter plays a crucial role in stabilizing nanoplastics at this interface. These results raise new questions concerning the impact of micro- and nanoplastics in fragile polar environments and the analytical strategy to detect them.

Graphical abstract: Micro- and nanoplastic transfer in freezing saltwater: implications for their fate in polar waters

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 jul 2021
Accepted
08 sep 2021
First published
09 sep 2021

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021,23, 1759-1770

Micro- and nanoplastic transfer in freezing saltwater: implications for their fate in polar waters

P. Alice, G. Maud, B. Dominique and G. Julien, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2021, 23, 1759 DOI: 10.1039/D1EM00280E

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