Tracing the Century‐Long Evolution of Microplastics Deposition in a Cold Seep

• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206120
• Publication Date: 2023-02-04T04:47:23Z
• Authors: Jing‐Chun Feng; Can‐Rong Li; Li Tang; Xiao‐Nan Wu; Yi Wang; Zhifeng Yang; Weiyu Yuan; Liwei Sun; Weiqiang Hu; Si Zhang
• Keywords: Tracing; Deposition; Petroleum seep

Microplastic (MP) pollution is one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems. Cold seeps are characterized by methane-rich fluid seepage fueling richest ecosystems on seafloor, and there approximately more than 900 cold globally. While long-term evolution MPs in remains unclear. Here, how have been deposited Haima seep since invention plastics demonstrated. It found that burial rates non-seepage areas significantly increased massive global use 1930s, nevertheless, abundance methane much lower area seep, suggesting degradation potential seeps. More MP-degrading microorganism populations functional genes discovered support this discovery. further investigated upwelling facilitated fragmentation behaviors MPs. Risk assessment indicated transport transformation deeper sediments can reduce environmental ecological risks. The findings illuminated need determine fundamental strategies for sustainable plastic mitigation natural deep-sea environments.