Microplastics in Antarctica - A plastic legacy in the Antarctic snow?

Jones-Williams, Kirstie; Rowlands, Emily; Primpke, Sebastian; Galloway, Tamara S.; Cole, Matthew; Waluda, Claire M.; Manno, Clara

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178543

articleThe Science of The Total EnvironmentFeb 1, 2025HYBRID OA

Microplastics in Antarctica - A plastic legacy in the Antarctic snow?

KJKirstie Jones-Williams EREmily Rowlands SPSebastian Primpke TSTamara S. Galloway MCMatthew Cole

British Antarctic Survey · Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung · +2 more institutions

PubMed

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Abstract

Microplastic pollution in remote inland Antarctica is largely unknown. This study explored the plastic footprint of snow from remote Antarctic camps: Union Glacier, Schanz Glacier and the South Pole. Refined automated FTIR techniques enabled interrogation of microplastics (including fibres) to a lower detection limit of 11 μm in Antarctic snow for the first time. Microplastics were pervasive (73–3099 MP L −1 ). The majority (95 %) measured 11 μm were explored in Antarctic snow for the first time. • 95 % of MPs were

Citation impact

42

total citations

FWCI: 16.52
Percentile: 100%
References: 57

Citations per year

Authors

7

Topics & keywords

Topics

Microplastics and Plastic Pollution100%

Keywords

Microplastics
Snow
Glacier
Environmental science
Plastic pollution
Pollution
Polyethylene
Cold climate

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