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Baztan J, Carrasco A, Chouinard O, Cleaud M, Gabaldon JE, Huck T, Jaffrès L, Jorgensen B, Miguelez A, Paillard C, Vanderlinden JP. Protected areas in the Atlantic facing the hazards of micro-plastic pollution: first diagnosis of three islands in the Canary Current. Mar Pollut Bull 2014; 80:302-11. [PMID: 24433999 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Revised: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Coastal zones and the biosphere as a whole show signs of cumulative degradation due to the use and disposal of plastics. To better understand the manifestation of plastic pollution in the Atlantic Ocean, we partnered with local communities to determine the concentrations of micro-plastics in 125 beaches on three islands in the Canary Current: Lanzarote, La Graciosa, and Fuerteventura. We found that, in spite of being located in highly-protected natural areas, all beaches in our study area are exceedingly vulnerable to micro-plastic pollution, with pollution levels reaching concentrations greater than 100 g of plastic in 1l of sediment. This paper contributes to ongoing efforts to develop solutions to plastic pollution by addressing the questions: (i) Where does this pollution come from?; (ii) How much plastic pollution is in the world's oceans and coastal zones?; (iii) What are the consequences for the biosphere?; and (iv) What are possible solutions?
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Baztan
- Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ana Carrasco
- Observatorio Reserva de Biosfera, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Fred Olsen s/n, 35500 Arrecife, Spain
| | - Omer Chouinard
- Université de Moncton, 18 Avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Muriel Cleaud
- Maison des Minéraux, Rue Cap de la Chèvre, 29160 Crozon, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús E Gabaldon
- Dynamical Systems, Gurb 17, 08500 Vic, Spain; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thierry Huck
- UBO-CNRS-LPO, UFR Sciences F308, 6 av. Le Gorgeu, 29238 Brest, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lionel Jaffrès
- Le Théâtre du Grain, Le Maquis, 12 Rue Victor Eusen, 29200 Brest, France
| | - Bethany Jorgensen
- The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, United States; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aquilino Miguelez
- Observatorio Reserva de Biosfera, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Fred Olsen s/n, 35500 Arrecife, Spain
| | - Christine Paillard
- IUEM-CNRS-LEMAR, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jean-Paul Vanderlinden
- Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
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