Evaluating temporal trends of microplastics and plastic additives in Arctic ice cores

Plastic pollution is a contaminant of emerging concern in northern latitudes at a national and international level. Microplastics have been documented in a variety of abiotic and biotic compartments across the Arctic including surface water, sediments, invertebrates, seabirds, and marine mammals. To date, there are no studies evaluating the historical deposition via long-range atmospheric transport of microplastic and plastic additives in the Canadian Arctic. In collaboration with the Canadian Ice Core Lab at the University of Alberta, we aimed to evaluate microplastic and plastic additives in archived ice cores to help inform future ice core work in the region. Datasets herein were compiled to include sampling and contaminant data for the NCP funded project M-18. This proposed work aims to evaluate historical temporal trends (from years 1900 to 2024) of microplastics, plastic additives, and other CEACs in ice cores from Mller Ice Cap, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut. This work will provide a holistic view of microplastics and plastic additive deposition over time into the Arctic environment. Understanding the types of plastics and plastic chemicals that enter the Arctic will directly inform monitoring priorities to help conserve wildlife and protect human health in the North. Results from this work will be presented in an annual focused workshop at the Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit. Translated reports will be provided to the GN, NECC, and other territorial organizations concerned with contaminants. Microplastic and chemical data analysis is ongoing and will be updated as data becomes available.塑料污染已在国家及国际层面成为北方高纬度地区新兴关注污染物。微塑料（microplastics）已在北极地区多种非生物与生物介质中被检出，涵盖地表水、沉积物、无脊椎动物、海鸟及海洋哺乳动物。迄今为止，尚无针对加拿大北极地区通过长距离大气传输沉降的微塑料与塑料添加剂开展历史沉积评估的研究。 本研究与阿尔伯塔大学加拿大冰芯实验室（Canadian Ice Core Lab）合作，旨在对存档冰芯中的微塑料与塑料添加剂开展检测分析，为该地区后续冰芯相关研究提供参考依据。 本数据集整合了NCP资助项目M-18的采样与污染物相关数据。本次研究计划对努纳武特地区阿克塞尔海伯格岛穆勒冰盖（Mller Ice Cap）冰芯中的微塑料、塑料添加剂及其他北极新兴关注污染物（CEACs）的历史时间演变趋势（1900年至2024年）进行评估。本研究将全面揭示北极环境中微塑料与塑料添加剂随时间的沉积规律。明确进入北极环境的塑料及塑料化学物类型，可直接为监测优先级制定提供依据，助力北极地区野生动物保护与人类健康防护。 本研究成果将在伊魁特的努纳武特北极学院举办的年度专题研讨会上发布。译制报告将提交至GN、NECC及其他关注污染物问题的地区性组织。 微塑料与化学物数据分析工作正在推进中，后续将随数据完善及时更新。