This study assessed the load of surface microplastics (i.e. plastics less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) abundance at 124 sites in the Mediterranean Sea from 2014-06-03 to 2014-11-08. Microplastics data were collected aboard R/V Tara using manta net, towed at the top 10 cm of the sea surface with an average speed of 2.5-3 knots for 60 minutes. This dataset contains the results from all surface net tows, in a spreadsheet format.

This study was carried out to estimate the microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in surface waters along Manila Bay, Philippines from 2018-10-07 to 2019-02-11. A metallic bucket was used to collect water from 0 to 12 cm below the surface water. Water from the bucket was poured unto stacked stainless sieves with varying mesh sizes. Microplastics were identified and counted under a stereo microscope. This dataset contains the results from all 5 sampling stations, in a spreadsheet format.

This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/kg d.w.) on beaches along the eastern Gulf of Thailand from 2019-04-11 to 2019-05-28. Microplastic data were collected using a metal spoon. This dataset contains the results from all 34 sediment samples, in a spreadsheet format.

This study was carried out to estimate the microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the mid-North Pacific Ocean. Microplastics data was collected from 2019-09-19 to 2019-10-30 aboard RV XIANG YANG HONG 03. Microplastics samples were collected using manta net. This dataset contains the results from all 15 sampling stations, in a spreadsheet format.

This study was carried out to estimate the floating microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm, reported in unit of pieces/m^3) concentration in the world oceans. Microplastics data were collected with neuston nets during 24 expeditions that occurred between 2007 and 2013. This dataset contains the results from all 680 sampling stations, in a spreadsheet format.

AIMS, in collaboration with The Clean Ocean Foundation, has completed this proof-of-concept study to facilitate further sampling of microplastics in the Southern Ocean (a joint collaborative initiative involving the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) and solo yachtswoman Lisa Blair). In this project, AIMS trialled density flotation and chemical digestion separation methods to process subsurface seawater samples and retrieve environmental microplastics. This report presents findings from controlled spike recovery tests as well as opportunistic field sampling events of subsurface waters processed with both separation methods. Opportunistic samples were collected along the NSW coastline in December 2021. Given the location of the sampling transects, this report also provides the first spatial baseline information on microplastic contamination in NSW waters adjacent to estuary outflows and urban outfalls. After trialling both separation methods, microplastics retrieved from the NSW samples were physically and chemically characterized used stereomicroscopy and spectroscopy, respectively. No statistical analysis were performed due to the low number of replicates. Results showed repeated chemical digestion employing potassium hydroxide solutions was most effective at microplastic recovery. Microplastics were retrieved from each of the eight samples collected in NSW subsurface seawaters, with polyethylene and polyester fibres being the most prevalent polymer types detected. The highest numbers of microplastics were recorded adjcent to the estuary outflows and urban outfalls present within the sampling area. Overall, the sampling and processing protocols developed here are allowing for the extension of the spatial coverage of microplastic data in seawaters.

This data describes the characterisation and estimated concentration of marine plastics in waters around Australia from surface net tows. The marine plastics recorded were predominantly small fragments (‘‘microplastics’’) resulting from the breakdown of larger objects made of polyethylene and polypropylene (e.g. packaging and fishing items). This data accompanies the following publication: Reisser J, Shaw J, Wilcox C, Hardesty BD, Proietti M, et al. (2013) Marine Plastic Pollution in Waters around Australia: Characteristics, Concentrations, and Pathways. PLoS ONE 8(11): e80466. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080466

This study estimated the abundance of microplastics (i.e., plastics measuring less than 5mm) on marine turtle nesting beaches during 2018-08-04 to 2020-01-24. Samples were collected with metallic trowel. Sand samples were collected from 209 sites spanning six oceans and 39 countries by a global network of marine turtle scientists. Microplastics were extracted through stacked sieves, visually identified, and a sub-sample verified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastic particles were counted and weighed, which in combination with the dry sand sample weight and volume, allowed multiple units of measure to be calculated: Plastic weight per kg of dry sediment (g kg-1), plastic particle number per kg of dry sediment (particle kg-1), and plastic particle number per m-3 of dry sediment (particle m-3). Plastic particles were also categorized into five types: industrial plastic pellets, foams, fragments, sheetlike user plastics and threadlike user plastics. This dataset contains the results from all 209 samples in a spreadsheet format.