Anthropogenic debris in an Antarctic Specially Protected Area in the maritime Antarctic.
Harmony Point
Macroplastics
Marine debris
Nelson Island
Polar pollution
Journal
Marine pollution bulletin
ISSN: 1879-3363
Titre abrégé: Mar Pollut Bull
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0260231
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Nov 2021
Nov 2021
Historique:
received:
12
05
2021
revised:
27
08
2021
accepted:
28
08
2021
pubmed:
17
9
2021
medline:
28
10
2021
entrez:
16
9
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) provide the strongest environmental protection in Antarctica. However, they are not immune from anthropogenic pollution of marine or terrestrial origin. We document anthropogenic debris within ASPA No. 133 Harmony Point, Nelson Island, recovering 1544 items between November 2019 and January 2020. The majority (82.6 %) were found close to a national operator-constructed refuge and were smaller than 5 cm. Larger items (up to 300 cm) were present on beaches and plateaus. Charcoal and rubber were the most abundant items around the refuge and plastic and metal were the most abundant items on beaches and plateaus. Debris items likely arriving in the area by marine transportation (e.g. plastic) are of concern due to both risk of ingestion and their degradation leading to the release of hazardous chemicals. Such pollution contravenes the terms of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and other regionally applicable regulations.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34526269
pii: S0025-326X(21)00955-3
doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112921
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Plastics
0
Waste Products
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
112921Informations de copyright
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