Are we contaminating our samples? A preliminary study to investigate procedural contamination during field sampling and processing for microplastic and anthropogenic microparticles.

Methods for sampling, analysis and interpretation of fresh and saltwater microplastics and anthropogenic microfibers have improved since 2004, but techniques for reducing and monitoring procedural contamination are still limited. Quantifying the amount of procedural contamination introduced to samples improves the robustness of counts of microplastics and anthropogenic microfibers in the environment. This pilot study investigates procedural contamination introduced into water samples when rigorous QA/QC anti-contamination protocols are used and removed. Procedural contamination accounted for 33.8% of the total microfibers and microplastics found in samples when protocols were used (n = 81), but 70.7% when they were not (n = 8). With the use of extensive control sampling and full characterization of samples (morphological, optical and chemical) it was possible to identify the predominant sources of contamination (crew clothing) and make recommendations for anti-contamination and procedural contamination identification/reduction protocols for shoreline and small/medium sized vessel sampling for microplastics and anthropogenic microfibers.

Plastic microfibre ingestion by deep-sea organisms.

Plastic waste is a distinctive indicator of the world-wide impact of anthropogenic activities. Both macro- and micro-plastics are found in the ocean, but as yet little is known about their ultimate fate and their impact on marine ecosystems. In this study we present the first evidence that microplastics are already becoming integrated into deep-water organisms. By examining organisms that live on the deep-sea floor we show that plastic microfibres are ingested and internalised by members of at least three major phyla with different feeding mechanisms. These results demonstrate that, despite its remote location, the deep sea and its fragile habitats are already being exposed to human waste to the extent that diverse organisms are ingesting microplastics.