Current state of research on microplastics in the marine-atmosphere environment of the Arctic region

Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size, are a growing source of environmental pollution.Microplastic pollution has been observed in situ in the remote Arctic, where it has been found in the land, sea, cryosphere, and atmosphere. This review summarizes the sample pretreatment techniques and analytical methods commonly used in microplastic research, as well as the pollution status of microplastics in the Arctic, their sources, and their effects on the environment. In the Arctic, the size distribution of microplastics is more inclined to small-scale aggregation, the shape of microplastics is mostly fibrous, with the proportion of fibers often accounting for more than 70%. There are marked differences among studies in terms of abundance and polymer composition, but polyester is generally dominant in seawater. Many microplastic particles are transported to the Arctic by ocean currents and rivers, but atmospheric transport and deposition are slowly being recognized as an important transport route. Sea ice is particularly important for the temporary storage, transport, and release of Arctic microplastics. The average storage of microplastics in sea ice was estimated to be approximately 6.1×108items. Given their properties, microplastics can affect glacier melting, sea surface temperature changes, and even the carbon cycle. Urgent measures must be taken to improve research standards and overcome sampling difficulties in the Arctic region to achieve time continuity and large-scale distribution patterns of Arctic microplastics.