Temporal and spatial microplastic distribution in the deep North Atlantic Ocean (2000 m) in relation to environmental factors and concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

在拟议的项目中，我们提出了三个假设：H1）区域差异是由微塑料通量中主要传输途径和聚合物成分的差异引起的。H2）微塑料通量率从南到北存在梯度，由于生物生产率较高，在更北的北方地区微塑料通量增加，H3）持久性有机污染物和塑料从大气到深海的迁移机制相似，沉积物收集器样本中持久性有机污染物和微塑料丰度呈正相关。我们的目标是评估微塑料丰度和其聚合物组成的沉积物收集器样品的季节性，年度和区域模式（H1）使用沉积物收集器样品从不同的采样点L1（基尔276），L2，L3，BATS和NB。这将揭示季节和年度模式，以及除了时间分辨率，提供空间微塑料分布在2000米深度的北大西洋。利用时间分辨的微塑料丰度，结合现有的海流和颗粒、成岩和生物通量数据，将评估微塑料的传输途径和潜在来源。此外，还将比较沉积物收集器样品中微塑料丰度与环境参数和自然颗粒通量及其组分（H2）的关系。由于人们强烈怀疑微塑料可作为有毒物质的载体，将高浓度的持久性有机污染物输送到大洋彼岸，因此对大西洋深海微塑料和持久性有机污染物通量的评估为阐明深海的这一特性提供了宝贵的机会（H3）。由于大量的潜在持久性有机污染物的物质可能检测到的下沉材料被选中，仍然存在于环境样本，如多环芳烃（多环芳烃），氯化联苯（多氯联苯），和二氯二苯基三氯乙烷（滴滴涕）。

In the proposed project, we have formulated three hypotheses: H1) Regional differences are caused by differences in dominating transport pathways and polymer compositions within the microplastic fluxes. H2) A gradient of microplastic flux rates exist from south to the north with increasing microplastic fluxes in more northern locations because of higher biological production rates and H3) The similar transport mechanisms for POPs and plastics from the atmosphere to the deep ocean are evidenced by a positive correlation of POPs and microplastic abundances in sediment trap samples. We are aiming at evaluating microplastic abundances and its polymer composition in sediment trap samples in terms of seasonal, annual, and regional patterns (H1) using sediment trap samples from different sampling sites L1 (Kiel276), L2, L3, BATS, and NB. This will reveal seasonal and annual patterns as well as in addition to the temporal resolution, provide spatial microplastic distributions within the 2000 m depth of North Atlantic Ocean. Using temporally resolved microplastic abundances combined with available data on currents and particle, lithogenic, and biogenic fluxes, transport pathways and potential sources of microplastics will be assessed. Additionally the comparison of microplastic abundances in sediment trap samples in relation to environmental parameters and natural particle flux and its components (H2) will be carried out. As microplastic is strongly suspected of acting as a vector for toxic substances, transporting high concentrations of POPs across the oceans, the evaluation of microplastic and POP fluxes in the deep Atlantic Ocean offers a valuable opportunity to elucidate this property for the deep sea (H3). Due to the high number of potential POP substances potentially detectable in sinking material were chosen, still present in environmental samples, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated diphenyl’s (PCBs), and Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).