Floating Microplastic, Trace Metals and Metalloids in Seawater: 17000 Nautical Miles Crossing from Southern Italy to United States

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4707708
• Publication Date: 2024-01-26T15:48:09Z
• Authors: Elisabetta Morici; Gaetano Cammilleri; Sergio Scirè; F.P. Bonomo; Luigi Tranchina; Francesca Terracina; Paola Galluzzo; Vincenzo Ferrantelli; Vincenzo Paolo M...; Sergio Davì; Mariano Licciardi; Salvatore Dara
• Keywords: Metalloid

Microplastics (MPs), trace metals (TM) and metalloids (Ms) floating on the surface of seawater are a severe emerging issue global concern. Information about distribution these pollutants is often lacking, large-scale studies come with uncertainties because difficult comparisons results obtained using different methods to collect process data. This study presents comprehensive investigation MPs amount in during two transatlantic sampling campaigns, covering approximately 17,000 nautical miles from Southern Italy (Palermo) United States. Moreover, TM Ms amounts were analyzed 10.000 Palermo Los Angeles. The reveal presence all analysed samples broad variation microplastic concentration, ranging 230 3320 items per liter seawater, filaments or fibers being most abundant shape, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy polarized light optical microscope. Coastal waters generally exhibit higher concentrations MPs, compared open sea waters, emphasizing correlation between pollution human activities. report reveals high particularly near Faroe Islands North Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, we found that microplastics continue accumulate years, so, for shared portion Mediterranean Sea comparison highlighted an average increase 80% number microplastics. order overall concentrations, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), was: As>Cr>Pb>Cd. No Cd was examined. Here, also emphasize require sustainable environmental management actions policies context monitoring growing problem our oceans urgency addressing this challenge.