%0 journal article
%@ 0025-326X
%A Hansen, J.,Hildebrandt, L.,Zimmermann, T.,El Gareb, F.,Fischer, E.K.,Pröfrock, D.
%D 2023
%J Marine Pollution Bulletin
%N 
%P 114880 
%R doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114880
%T Quantification and characterization of microplastics in surface water samples from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean using Laser Direct Infrared Imaging
%U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114880
 
%X 15 filtration samples were collected at eight locations onboard the RV Sonne (cruise SO279 in 2020) from 6 m water depth using a fractionated stainless-steel filtration unit. The size fraction > 300 μm was visually examined and potential microplastic particles were analyzed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The treatment of size class 20 μm < d < 300 μm was based on enzymatic-oxidative microwave-assisted “one-pot” matrix digestion in conjunction with analysis of the microplastics by time-efficient LDIR imaging.,Total number concentrations ranged from 47 to 2154 microplastic particles per m3 (average for all stations: 500 ± 700 microplastic particles m−3 (1 SD; n = 8)). In total, 20 polymer types were identified. The most common polymer types were polyethylene terephthalate (20 %) and acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (15 %). 93 % of the detected microplastics were smaller than 100 μm in length. Analysis of sample replicates indicates high spatio-temporal variations in microplastic pollution within the investigated region.