The 34th Antarctic expedition team that is carrying out oceanographic examinations on the 'Snow Dragon' has recently discovered polypropylene microplastics in the Davis Sea, Antarctica, marking the first discovery of such microplastics by this expedition team in this area .
Expedition member Zhang Shoufeng, an assistant researcher at the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, told reporters that Snow Dragon collected seawater plastic samples at Davis Sea, Antarctica, on December 26, 2017. The expedition members used 'Fourier transform microscopy infrared spectroscopy 'Analysis and identification of many days, the final confirmation of the two macroscopic blue flakes in the sample polypropylene plastic.
Zhang Shoufeng said marine micro plastic is a plastic waste less than 5 mm in size in the marine environment.The polypropylene plastic used for this discovery is mostly used for daily food packaging.As the micro plastic is not easily degraded in the marine environment and is easy to be eaten by marine organisms, Thus posing a threat to the marine ecosystem and potentially affecting human health through the food chain.
'Snow Dragon' since November 19, 2017 to carry out marine micro-plastic sampling, so far received a total of 35 samples, covering the Antarctic Rose Sea, Davis Sea, Prydz Bay and other waters.
Experts said that the Antarctic expedition to carry out marine micro-plastic sampling work, access to the sample is very precious.Analysis of samples will help China grasp the Antarctic waters of plastic species, quantity, particle size and distribution, the protection of the Antarctic ecological environment is important Significance, but also demonstrates China's determination to deal with the pollution of micro-plastics, actively participate in resolving international hot environmental issues and the image of a responsible big country.