%0 journal article
%@ 0269-7491
%A Hildebrandt, L., El Gareb, F., Zimmermann, T., Klein, O., Kerstan, A., Emeis, K., Pröfrock, D.

%D 2022
%J Environmental Pollution

%P 119547 
%R doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119547
%T Spatial distribution of microplastics in the tropical Indian Ocean based on laser direct infrared imaging and microwave-assisted matrix digestion
%U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119547
 
%X The mean microplastic concentration of the analyzed samples was 50 ± 30 particles/fibers m−3 (1 SD, n = 21). Number concentrations ranged from 8 to 132 particles/fibers m−3 (20–300 μm). The most abundant polymer clusters were acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (49%), polyethylene terephthalate (26%), polypropylene (8%), polyethylene (4%) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (4%). 96% of the microplastic particles had a diameter <100 μm. Though inter-study comparison is difficult, the investigated area exhibits a high contamination with particulate plastics compared to other open ocean regions. A distinct spatial trend was observed with an increasing share of the size class 20–50 μm from east to west.