Small Microplastics, and Microlitter Components in Superficial Water and Sediments of Krossfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago

Small microplastics (SMPs, <100 μm), additives and plasticizers (APs) can reach high latitudes through long-range transport, but they can also be released locally by human settlements and commercial/tourist activities. The study of the distribution of SMPs and APs is still neglected in the Arctic marine environment. Smaller microplastics can be easily transported and ingested by organisms than larger ones (> 100 μm). Additives and plasticizers are generally included in plastic objects and can therefore be proxies for the presence of specific plastic polymers. Preliminary data from this study aim to answer different question: (i) quantification and identification of SMPs and APs in the surface seawater and sediments of Krossfjorden, in Svalbard Archipelago; (ii) understanding of transport, sources and deposition of these particles in a fjord warming and atlantification scenario. The fieldwork activity took place from late August to early September 2022 along the Krossfjorden. The sampling of surface seawaters and marine sediments was conducted on board of MS-Teisten (Kings Bay vessel) using Niskin bottles and grabs. Preliminary laboratory activities were conducted at the “Dirigibile Italia” station to easily transport the samples to Italy. At the CNR-ISP in Venice, SMPs and APs were extracted from the samples using oleoextraction and filtration methods. This procedure preserves the plastic fragments, without denaturing them, because no strong reagents or high temperatures were used. Fieldwork and laboratory blanks were done to assess the external and personal contamination. The analytical phase was performed with the Μ-FTIR. The preliminary results of this study will show the different distribution of the SMPs and APS polymers along the fjord. It will also be possible to understand which areas of the fjord are most contaminated and thus whether this distribution can be related to local or distant sources. We expect to see a difference in concentrations and contaminant type between surface water and sediment sampling points, thus providing a preliminary interpretation of plastic deposition. This study will be a starting point for increasing knowledge about additives and plasticizers in the Arctic environment. It will also provide useful information regarding the surface distribution of these particles and their potential sink.