Microplastics Contamination in Sediment, Water, Snow/Ice, Fish and Seals of the Canadian Arctic: 2021-2022

The purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence, amounts and types of microplastics in Canadian Arctic air, water, sediment, fish and seals. Microplastic (MP) particles are mixed with the food sources of marine organisms and could be accidentally or deliberately ingested during foraging. To mitigate ecological impacts, it is essential to understand the sources, fate and consequences of MPs in the aquatic environment and the impacts of these contaminants on the health and traditional lifestyles of Northerners. Studies of MPs in polar regions are rare compared to temperate region examples, and we are collecting samples snow, ice, water, sediment, fish (intestines) and seals (stomachs) to determine the extent of contamination of the Canadian Arctic ecosystem. In collaboration with the Northern Contaminants Program and ArcticNet, samples were collected throughout the Canadian Archipelago, including Hudson Bay and the Beaufort Sea from on board several Canadian Coast Guard ships.