The Influence of Human Activities on the Presence and Distribution of Microplastics in the Antarctic Peninsula (Admiralty Bay)

• Grant number: 23/16450-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Geological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Renata Hanae Nagai
• Grantee: Yan Weber Mesquita
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are dispersed in all compartments of the environment, and have already been reported around the globe, including in Antarctica. Currently, studies report concentrations of microplastics in the air, water column, ice and snow, sediment and biota, which can cause impacts on Antarctic ecosystems. However, understanding the transport and identification of sources of these microplastics in this remote environment still requires further investigation, and knowledge of spatial distribution and temporal evolution in Antarctica can help to understand the global scenario of plastic pollution. This project, therefore, aims to evaluate the influence of the development of human activities on the presence and spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica). To this end, samples of surface sediment (referring to the last decade) and sedimentary cores (representing the last century) already collected in different coves of Admiralty Bay will be analyzed. Sample preparation will consist of separation by density, through flotation of a subsample in saline solution, and filtration of the supernatant material to obtain microplastics. Then, they will be identified and categorized visually, and by their chemical composition. The results generated can expand our understanding of the contamination of Antarctic environments by microplastics, such as areas of greater accumulation of particles, the evolution of this scenario in recent decades and identify potential local sources.