Abundance of microscopic paint flakes in the North Atlantic

Date:
October 7, 2021
Source:
University of Plymouth
Summary:
Flakes of paint could be one of the most abundant type
of microplastic particles in the ocean, new research has
suggested. Through a range of surveys conducted across the North
Atlantic Ocean, scientists estimated that each cubic meter of
seawater contained an average of 0.01 paint flakes.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Flakes of paint could be one of the most abundant type of microplastic particles in the ocean, new research has suggested.


========================================================================== Through a range of surveys conducted across the North Atlantic Ocean, scientists estimated that each cubic metre of seawater contained an
average of 0.01 paint flakes.

This, they say, suggests the material is second only in terms of recorded abundance to microplastic fibres, which have an estimated concentration
of about 0.16 particles per m3.

A detailed chemical analysis of some of the flakes, conducted on some of
the particles gathered during the surveys, also revealed high quantities
of copper, lead, iron and other elements.

This is because they are designed to have antifouling or anti-corrosive properties, with the researchers saying it could pose an additional environmental threat to both the ocean and many species living within
it when they ingest the particles.

The study, published in Science of the Total Environment, was carried out
by scientists from the University of Plymouth and the Marine Biological Association (MBA).



==========================================================================
Over the past two decades, the organisations have collaborated on a
number of ocean plastics projects, and in 2019 demonstrated there had
been a significant increase in open-ocean plastics since the late 1950s.

Dr Andrew Turner, Associate Professor (Reader) in Environmental Sciences
at the University of Plymouth, is the current study's lead author. He
said: "Paint particles have often been an overlooked component of marine microplastics but this study shows that they are relatively abundant
in the ocean. The presence of toxic metals like lead and copper pose
additional risks to wildlife." The study is based around data gathered
by the MBA's Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR), which is fitted with
silk meshes and towed in surface waters similar to the spaces occupied
by marine mammals.

Over the course of 2018, it was used to sample sea water right across
the North Atlantic region, from the Arctic Ocean to Spain, and from the
eastern United States to Sweden.

More than 3,600 samples were collected during that time and flakes
were reported in about 2.8% (102) of all silks analysed. That compares
with fibres or strands being observed in 48.8% (1763) of silks over the
same period.

Paint flakes also appeared to be more densely distributed around the
shelf seas of northwest Europe than in the open, or more remote, ocean environments.

An analysis of the paint particles was carried out in labs at the
University using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, with their
chemical composition consistent with that found on the hulls and other
painted components of ships mobilised in the Atlantic region.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Plymouth. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Andrew Turner, Clare Ostle, Marianne Wootton. Occurrence and
chemical
characteristics of microplastic paint flakes in the North Atlantic
Ocean.

Science of The Total Environment, 2022; 806: 150375 DOI: 10.1016/
j.scitotenv.2021.150375 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211007101007.htm

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