@article{0773a351c1a9450899d9c5ee5c5ffcee,
title = "Assessing plastic size distribution and quantity on a remote island in the South Pacific",
abstract = "Plastics are an environmental threat; however, their fate once in the pelagic environment is poorly known. We compare results from assessments of floating plastics in the South Pacific Ocean with accumulated beach plastics from Henderson Island. We also compare accumulated plastic mass on Henderson during 2015 and 2019 and investigate the presence of nanoplastics. There were differences between the size classes of beach and pelagic plastics, and an increase in microplastics (0.33–5 mm) on the beach between 2015 and 2019. Micro- and nanoplastics were found at all sites (mean ± SE: 1960 ± 356 pieces/kg dw). Across the whole beach this translates to >4 billion plastic particles in the upper 5 cm. This is concerning, particularly given Henderson is uninhabited and distant from urban centres (~2350 km from Pape'ete, French Polynesia). The vast number of small particles on Henderson may make nearshore filter feeders susceptible to ingestion and subsequent detrimental impacts.",
keywords = "Anthropogenic debris, Henderson Island, Marine debris, Microplastic, Nanoparticle, Plastic pollution",
author = "Nichols, {Emma C.} and Lavers, {Jennifer L.} and Simeon Archer-Rand and Bond, {Alexander L.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank the Pitcairn community (especially S. O'Keefe, P. Warren, and J. Warren) and the 2015 and 2019 Henderson expedition teams (especially S. Oppel, M. Barker, J. Briggs, and R. Shackell) for providing logistical support. Funding for this study was generously provided (directly or in-kind) by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Detached Cultural Organization, Natural History Museum, Howell Conservation Fund, Valpak, Toughsheet Environmental, the Pew Trusts, CEFAS, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Blue Belt Programme and Pitcairn Island Office), Architectural and Community Planning Inc., Zoological Society of London, and Schwab International. Comments from 2 anonymous reviewers improved this manuscript. Funding Information: We thank the Pitcairn community (especially S. O'Keefe, P. Warren, and J. Warren) and the 2015 and 2019 Henderson expedition teams (especially S. Oppel, M. Barker, J. Briggs, and R. Shackell) for providing logistical support. Funding for this study was generously provided (directly or in-kind) by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds , Detached Cultural Organization , Natural History Museum , Howell Conservation Fund , Valpak , Toughsheet Environmental , the Pew Trusts , CEFAS , the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Blue Belt Programme and Pitcairn Island Office) , Architectural and Community Planning Inc. , Zoological Society of London , and Schwab International . Comments from 2 anonymous reviewers improved this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",
year = "2021",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112366",
language = "English",
volume = "167",
journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",
issn = "0025-326X",
publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",
}
