Arctic Ocean's Plastic Pollution: A Growing Concern

The Arctic Ocean is facing a plastic pollution crisis. The region is one of the most plastic-polluted places on the planet, with plastic debris and microplastics infiltrating terrestrial and aquatic systems, the cryosphere and the atmosphere. The amount of plastic in the Arctic Ocean is difficult to quantify due to the variety of plastic sizes, from giant fishing nets to tiny nanoplastic particles. However, studies indicate that the Arctic Ocean surface waters contain the most plastics of any ocean basin, with a total of 300 billion plastic pieces estimated to be present. The pollution is a result of both local and distant sources, with plastic transported to the region by ocean currents, wind, atmospheric transport, and rivers. The impact of this pollution on the Arctic ecosystem is significant, with plastic ingested by wildlife and entangled in it, and the problem is expected to worsen with climate change.

Plastic pollution in the Arctic is pervasive, even in remote areas with no human activity

Plastic pollution is now pervasive in the Arctic, even in areas with no apparent human activity, such as the deep seafloor. The Arctic Ocean surface waters contain the most plastics of any ocean basin. A total of 300 billion plastic pieces are estimated to be present in the surface waters alone, and it is likely that there is even more plastic on the sea floor. These tiny fragments are nearly impossible to remove.

The plastic found in the Arctic comes from both local and distant sources. The local sources include fisheries, landfills, wastewater, and offshore industrial activity. Distant sources are a substantial contributor as well, as plastic is carried from lower latitudes to the Arctic by ocean currents, atmospheric transport, and rivers. A recent study found that more than 80% of Arctic shoreline litter can be attributed to the fishing sector.

The plastic pollution in the Arctic has severe consequences for the local ecosystems. It accumulates in certain areas, and its persistence in the environment means it is very resistant to degradation. Marine debris has been recorded causing entanglements and ingestion by mammals, seabirds, fish, and invertebrates. In fact, 79% of northern fulmar seabirds in Iceland are estimated to have plastics in their stomachs. Abandoned fishing gear and other plastic litter can trap sea life, including large animals such as sperm whales.

The Arctic Council's Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group is using seabirds to monitor plastic in the Arctic. The group is combining knowledge on plastic ingestion, conservation status, and the ability to monitor Arctic seabird species for the first long-term monitoring of how plastic pollution affects seabirds across the region.

Plastic is carried to the Arctic by ocean currents, winds, and rivers

The Arctic is now pervasively polluted with plastic, even in areas with no apparent human activity, such as the deep seafloor. Plastic is carried to the Arctic by ocean currents, winds, and rivers. Once there, it accumulates in certain areas, affecting local ecosystems.

Buoyant plastic can float with ocean surface currents to higher latitudes, with most plastic transported into the Arctic from the Atlantic. Less buoyant plastic can be carried on subsurface currents to the polar regions. The North Atlantic Current, for example, transports plastic pollution from the south, while the Transpolar Drift carries it from the north. Bottom currents can carry microplastics on the seafloor to accumulation areas that also happen to be biodiversity hotspots.

In addition to ocean currents, winds also carry plastic to the Arctic. Atmospheric transport is an important pathway, with microplastics falling on the far north mixed with snow. Wind-induced subtropical gyres are another large-scale ocean circulation system at play. Driven by differences in the densities of polar and tropical waters, the surface water in the Greenland and Barents seas becomes progressively more dense by cooling, ultimately moving downward. This sink of ocean waters pulls surface water from the North Atlantic, collecting buoyant plastic from highly populated latitudes and delivering it to the Arctic.

Rivers are another source of plastic pollution in the Arctic. The amount of plastic debris entering the Arctic Ocean through rivers is unclear, but it could be important due to their enormous catchment areas that lie beyond the Arctic borders, some of which pass through big cities.

Plastic pollution in the Arctic comes from both local and distant sources

The Arctic is facing a plastic pollution crisis, with plastic debris and microplastics infiltrating its terrestrial and aquatic systems, the cryosphere, and the atmosphere. This pollution originates from both local and distant sources, and it poses a unique problem due to the region's reliance on the marine ecosystem for food and culture.

Local sources of plastic pollution in the Arctic include small, remote communities within the region that face challenges with waste management. Expensive infrastructure, poor economies of scale, and complex socioeconomic issues make it difficult to implement conventional solutions. Additionally, specific industries contribute significantly to local plastic pollution. Fisheries, for instance, are responsible for more than 80% of Arctic shoreline litter. Other local sources include landfills, wastewater, and offshore industrial activity.

Distant sources of plastic pollution in the Arctic are also significant. Plastic is carried from lower latitudes and highly populated regions to the Arctic by ocean currents, atmospheric transport, and rivers. The Greenland and Barents Seas, for example, receive plastic debris from faraway sources, including the coasts of northwest Europe, the UK, and the east coast of the United States. This plastic is transported by ocean currents and accumulates in the Arctic due to the region's unique geography. Once in the Arctic, plastic pollution becomes trapped and accumulates in certain areas, affecting local ecosystems.

The impact of plastic pollution in the Arctic is widespread and concerning. It has infiltrated all levels of the Arctic food web, including many endemic species, with unknown organismal impacts. Interactions such as entanglements and ingestion of marine debris have been recorded for mammals, seabirds, fish, and invertebrates. The problem is expected to worsen with climate change as sea ice melts and human activities in the region increase.

Addressing plastic pollution in the Arctic requires a multifaceted approach. It involves improving waste management practices in local communities, implementing international collaborations to reduce marine litter, and mitigating both local and distal plastic pollution sources to prevent further ecosystem degradation.

Plastic particles can act as vectors for contaminants, and invasive species can hitch rides on plastic debris

The Arctic Ocean is facing a plastic pollution crisis. The region is vulnerable to pollution from distant sources, with plastic transported by ocean currents, atmospheric transport, and rivers. Once in the Arctic, plastic accumulates in certain areas, threatening local ecosystems.

Plastic particles can act as vectors for contaminants, carrying chemical pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. These contaminants can be acquired from seawater or added during the plastic manufacturing process. As plastic breaks down, it can release these toxins into the surrounding environment, posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems.

Invasive species can also hitch rides on plastic debris, dispersing to new locations and threatening native biodiversity. Floating plastics provide a means for invasive species to reach remote coasts, increasing the potential for species invasion in biologically diverse areas. This dispersal of organisms can have significant ecological impacts, contributing to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.

The impact of plastic pollution in the Arctic is evident in the marine food chain, with evidence of plastic ingestion by wildlife such as seabirds and fish. Studies have found high levels of plastic in the stomachs of northern fulmar seabirds in Iceland, and plastic pollution has been observed in Arctic wildlife stomachs by Inuit communities.

Addressing plastic pollution in the Arctic requires a global collective effort. Initiatives such as the International Symposium on Plastics in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Region aim to tackle the issue, highlighting the importance of preventing plastic pollution and finding innovative solutions to protect the fragile Arctic ecosystem.

The effects of microplastics in the Arctic food chain are not yet fully understood

The Arctic is one of the most plastic-polluted places on Earth. Plastic pollution is now pervasive in the region, even in areas with no apparent human activity, such as the deep seafloor. This is due to ocean currents, atmospheric transport, and rivers carrying plastic from lower latitudes to the Arctic. Once in the Arctic, plastic accumulates in certain areas and affects local ecosystems.

Studies have found higher concentrations of microplastics in sea ice in remote, high-latitude areas of the Arctic than in the infamous ocean garbage patches. Microplastics have been detected in Arctic snow, sea ice, seawater, sediments on the ocean floor, and on beaches. They are transported to the Arctic through ocean and atmospheric currents, and their presence in the region is expected to worsen with climate change as sea ice melts and human activities in the region increase.

The sources of microplastics in the Arctic are both local and distant. Local sources include fisheries, landfills, wastewater, and offshore industrial activity, while distant sources include plastic transported from lower latitudes by ocean currents and wind patterns. The Arctic is particularly vulnerable to remote sources of pollution, and the long-range transport of microplastics to the region is a continuous process.

The impact of microplastics on the Arctic food chain is a growing concern, and more research is needed to fully understand the risks they pose to this fragile ecosystem and the people who depend on it for their livelihoods.

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