Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida collected from 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24 (NCEI Accession 0285700)

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This study estimated the concentration of microplastics (i.e. plastics measuring less than 5mm; reported in unit of particles/L for water samples and particles/kg d.w for sediment samples) in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida collected from 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24. Microplastics in sediments were collected using a Shipek grab sampler. Microplastic particles suspended in the water column were collected using two different sampling methods: discrete water samples and plankton tows. The discrete samples were collected using a Van Dorn sampler. The plankton tows used a 330 μm plankton net towed at ~2 knots (1 m/s) 1-2 meters below the sea surface for 3 min outside the research vessel's wake. This dataset contains the results from all 181 discrete water samples, 33 plankton tow samples, and 9 sediment samples, in a spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: McEachern, Kinsley; Alegria, Henry; Kalagher, Amelia L.; Hansen, Cypress; Morrison, Samantha; Hastings, David (2023). Microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida collected from 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24 (NCEI Accession 0285700). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0285700. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0285700

Full Text · XML

Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	Excel
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -82.782 East: -82.392267 South: 27.5737 North: 28.0261
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

NCEI Dataset Landing Page
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Descriptive Information
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Database (1972-present)
- NCEI Collection
  Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
McEachern K, Alegria H, Kalagher AL, Hansen C, Morrison S, Hastings D. Microplastics in Tampa Bay, Florida: Abundance and variability in estuarine waters and sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2019 Aug 10; 148:97–106.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.068
  related journal article

gov.noaa.nodc:NCEI-Marine-Microplastics

Publication Dates	publication: 2023-12-06
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Supplemental Information	Submission Package ID: X54F7A
Purpose	These microplastic concentration data were collected in order to determine their abundance in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida during 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: McEachern, Kinsley; Alegria, Henry; Kalagher, Amelia L.; Hansen, Cypress; Morrison, Samantha; Hastings, David (2023). Microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida collected from 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24 (NCEI Accession 0285700). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0285700. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	McEachern, Kinsley University of South Florida Alegria, Henry University of South Florida Kalagher, Amelia L. Eckerd College Hansen, Cypress Eckerd College Morrison, Samantha Eckerd College Hastings, David Eckerd College
Contributors	University of South Florida (USF)
Resource Providers	David Hastings University of South Florida (USF) University of South Florida (USF)
Points of Contact	Ebenezer Nyadjro Mississippi State University; Northern Gulf Institute (NGI)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Related Funding Agency: Tampa Bay Estuary Program Related Funding Agency: Restore America Estuaries Fund

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS DEPTH - BOTTOM microplastic concentration NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ laboratory analyses WMO_CategoryCode oceanography Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > BATHYMETRY/SEAFLOOR TOPOGRAPHY > WATER DEPTH EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > WATER QUALITY > SEA SURFACE CONTAMINANTS > MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS University of South Florida NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS University of South Florida
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer microscope net - plankton net sediment sampler - grab sediment sieve Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords FTIR SPECTROMETER > Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer GRAB SAMPLERS GRANULOMETRIC SIEVES MICROSCOPES > MICROSCOPES PLANKTON NETS Provider Instruments Shipek grab sampler Van Dorn sampler
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Coastal Waters of Florida Coastal Waters of Gulf of Mexico Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO Provider Place Names Atlantic Ocean
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0285700

Use Constraints	Cite as: McEachern, Kinsley; Alegria, Henry; Kalagher, Amelia L.; Hansen, Cypress; Morrison, Samantha; Hastings, David (2023). Microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida collected from 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24 (NCEI Accession 0285700). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0285700. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2023-12-06T17:55:45Z - NCEI Accession 0285700 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0285700 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0285700 v1.1 (download) published 2023-12-06T17:55:45Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: particles/L; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: net - plankton net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Twenty-four stations were chosen from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPC-HC) monthly sampling locations to collect discrete and plankton tow samples. Five sites were located in Old Tampa Bay (OTB: 65, 42, 60, 61, and 50); six sites in Hillsborough Bay (HB: 44, 52, 7, 8, 55, and 80); five sites in Middle Tampa Bay (MTB: 84, 28, 19, 33, and 14); and four sites in Lower Tampa Bay (LTB: 91, 22, 92, and 94). Four sites were in rivers that flow into Tampa Bay: stations 141, 102, and 103 were in tributaries to Old Tampa Bay; station 2 was at the mouth of the Hillsborough River. Sediment samples were collected at nine stations. Different parts of the Tampa Bay system, population densities, industrial and wastewater outputs, as well as proximity to relatively pristine bodies of water and healthy mangrove, oyster, and seagrass ecosystems were all represented by the sample sites chosen. Microplastic particles suspended in the water column were collected using two different sampling methods: discrete water samples and plankton tows. The discrete samples were captured using a Van Dorn sampler that was triple-rinsed in seawater then lowered 1m below the surface to collect the sample. The sample was poured into a 1 L HDPE collection bottle that was cleaned in the laboratory with filtered deionized water (Milli-Q®) prior to field sampling and triple-rinsed in situ with sea water. Plankton tow samples were taken using a 330 μm plankton net with a 50 cm diameter at stations in Old Tampa Bay (50 and 42); Hillsborough Bay (55 and 8); Middle Tampa Bay (28); and Lower Tampa Bay (94). The net and collection bottle were triple-rinsed with seawater at the station before being deployed, towed at ~2 knots (1 m/s) one to two meters below the sea surface for 3 min outside the research vessel's wake. After detaching the cod-end collection bottle, the net was thoroughly rinsed with seawater to collect microplastic particles. Samples were frozen until processed. Sediment samples were collected using a Shipek grab sampler. In the laboratory, discrete water samples were vacuum-filtered through a 1.2 μm pore size, 47mm diameter, gridded cellulose nitrate (CN) filter paper. Microplastic particles were counted using a Nikon® dissecting microscope at 33× magnification. Plankton tow samples contained a large amount of organic matter that needed to be removed in order to accurately count microplastic particles. The larger pieces, including sea grass, were first manually separated from the sample. Smaller pieces, mainly plankton, were removed via an enzymatic digestion process. Samples were split five times with a Folsom plankton splitter to reduce sample volume, passed through a 212 μm wire mesh sieve, rinsed with DI water, then filtered onto a 1.2 μm cellulose nitrate filter. The material retained on the wire mesh was desiccated at 65–80 °C in glass vials, then 15 mL of homogenizing solution (15.77 g Tris HCl, 4.38 g EDTA, 1.53 g NaCl, and 1.26 g SDS in 250 mL deionized water) was added to each vial. Samples were vortexed for 30 s and homogenized with an 18-gauge needle and syringe, then heated at 50 °C for 20 min in a hot water bath. Finally, 375 μL of Proteinase K (500 μg/mL) was added and samples were incubated for 2–4 h at 50 °C. After incubation, 5 mL of 5M NaClO4 was added to each vial and vortexed for 30 s. Digested samples were filtered onto a 1.2 μm, 47mm diameter gridded, cellulose nitrate filter paper. Microplastic particles were counted under a dissecting microscope. As with the discrete samples, considerable efforts were made to avoid contamination from ambient microplastic particles. The method for quantifying microplastics in sediments used volume reduction of the sample by elutriation followed by a density separation using a high density (6.7 M; 1.6 g/cm3) NaI solution. Using NaI in lieu of the conventional, and lower density saturated NaCl solution extracts all types of microplastics present in environmental samples, including high-density plastics and results in a high (98%) extraction efficiency. The first step was to concentrate less dense microplastic particles from the bulk of the sediment using an elutriation column. The sediment sample (~150 g) was put into the top of the column in which flowing water (3 L/min) and small air bubbles forced the less dense particles up the column where they spilled over into a 53 μm sieve. The sample was then transferred to a 50 mL centrifuge tube with 6.7M NaI and centrifuged for 15 min at 3350 rpm. Supernatant was filtered to collect and count the microplastic particles. Careful attention was paid to prevent airborne contamination by covering all open containers with Al foil and keeping the elutriation column and collecting sieve capped. Overlying water collected with the grab sampler, which includes microplastic particles associated with the benthic boundary layer, was included in sample processing. Dry weight was determined by drying a 10–15 g sample of homogenized wet sediment at 90 °C to a constant weight.; Data Quality Method: Great care was taken to avoid airborne or waterborne contamination of microplastics during processing. Cotton (100%) lab coats were always worn and clothing that shed microplastic fibers was not worn. Laboratory benches were wiped down before each use; filter parts and glassware were thoroughly rinsed before each use with filtered deionized water. Furthermore, a watch glass was placed over the top of the filter during use. Blanks of 0.2 μm filtered deionized water (Milli-Q®) were taken to establish values for contamination in the lab. Microplastics were identified as pieces ≤5mm that possess no cellular structures, are equally thick throughout their entire length, and either clear or homogeneous in color throughout. Any pieces believed to be plastic were probed with a hot dissecting needle. If the material quickly melted or disfigured, the sample was classified as plastic. Biological materials do not melt - they burn and react less to heat.. Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: particles/L; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Van Dorn sampler. Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: particles/kg dry weight; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Shipek grab sampler.

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: particles/L; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: net - plankton net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Twenty-four stations were chosen from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPC-HC) monthly sampling locations to collect discrete and plankton tow samples. Five sites were located in Old Tampa Bay (OTB: 65, 42, 60, 61, and 50); six sites in Hillsborough Bay (HB: 44, 52, 7, 8, 55, and 80); five sites in Middle Tampa Bay (MTB: 84, 28, 19, 33, and 14); and four sites in Lower Tampa Bay (LTB: 91, 22, 92, and 94). Four sites were in rivers that flow into Tampa Bay: stations 141, 102, and 103 were in tributaries to Old Tampa Bay; station 2 was at the mouth of the Hillsborough River. Sediment samples were collected at nine stations. Different parts of the Tampa Bay system, population densities, industrial and wastewater outputs, as well as proximity to relatively pristine bodies of water and healthy mangrove, oyster, and seagrass ecosystems were all represented by the sample sites chosen. Microplastic particles suspended in the water column were collected using two different sampling methods: discrete water samples and plankton tows. The discrete samples were captured using a Van Dorn sampler that was triple-rinsed in seawater then lowered 1m below the surface to collect the sample. The sample was poured into a 1 L HDPE collection bottle that was cleaned in the laboratory with filtered deionized water (Milli-Q®) prior to field sampling and triple-rinsed in situ with sea water. Plankton tow samples were taken using a 330 μm plankton net with a 50 cm diameter at stations in Old Tampa Bay (50 and 42); Hillsborough Bay (55 and 8); Middle Tampa Bay (28); and Lower Tampa Bay (94). The net and collection bottle were triple-rinsed with seawater at the station before being deployed, towed at ~2 knots (1 m/s) one to two meters below the sea surface for 3 min outside the research vessel's wake. After detaching the cod-end collection bottle, the net was thoroughly rinsed with seawater to collect microplastic particles. Samples were frozen until processed. Sediment samples were collected using a Shipek grab sampler. In the laboratory, discrete water samples were vacuum-filtered through a 1.2 μm pore size, 47mm diameter, gridded cellulose nitrate (CN) filter paper. Microplastic particles were counted using a Nikon® dissecting microscope at 33× magnification. Plankton tow samples contained a large amount of organic matter that needed to be removed in order to accurately count microplastic particles. The larger pieces, including sea grass, were first manually separated from the sample. Smaller pieces, mainly plankton, were removed via an enzymatic digestion process. Samples were split five times with a Folsom plankton splitter to reduce sample volume, passed through a 212 μm wire mesh sieve, rinsed with DI water, then filtered onto a 1.2 μm cellulose nitrate filter. The material retained on the wire mesh was desiccated at 65–80 °C in glass vials, then 15 mL of homogenizing solution (15.77 g Tris HCl, 4.38 g EDTA, 1.53 g NaCl, and 1.26 g SDS in 250 mL deionized water) was added to each vial. Samples were vortexed for 30 s and homogenized with an 18-gauge needle and syringe, then heated at 50 °C for 20 min in a hot water bath. Finally, 375 μL of Proteinase K (500 μg/mL) was added and samples were incubated for 2–4 h at 50 °C. After incubation, 5 mL of 5M NaClO4 was added to each vial and vortexed for 30 s. Digested samples were filtered onto a 1.2 μm, 47mm diameter gridded, cellulose nitrate filter paper. Microplastic particles were counted under a dissecting microscope. As with the discrete samples, considerable efforts were made to avoid contamination from ambient microplastic particles. The method for quantifying microplastics in sediments used volume reduction of the sample by elutriation followed by a density separation using a high density (6.7 M; 1.6 g/cm3) NaI solution. Using NaI in lieu of the conventional, and lower density saturated NaCl solution extracts all types of microplastics present in environmental samples, including high-density plastics and results in a high (98%) extraction efficiency. The first step was to concentrate less dense microplastic particles from the bulk of the sediment using an elutriation column. The sediment sample (~150 g) was put into the top of the column in which flowing water (3 L/min) and small air bubbles forced the less dense particles up the column where they spilled over into a 53 μm sieve. The sample was then transferred to a 50 mL centrifuge tube with 6.7M NaI and centrifuged for 15 min at 3350 rpm. Supernatant was filtered to collect and count the microplastic particles. Careful attention was paid to prevent airborne contamination by covering all open containers with Al foil and keeping the elutriation column and collecting sieve capped. Overlying water collected with the grab sampler, which includes microplastic particles associated with the benthic boundary layer, was included in sample processing. Dry weight was determined by drying a 10–15 g sample of homogenized wet sediment at 90 °C to a constant weight.; Data Quality Method: Great care was taken to avoid airborne or waterborne contamination of microplastics during processing. Cotton (100%) lab coats were always worn and clothing that shed microplastic fibers was not worn. Laboratory benches were wiped down before each use; filter parts and glassware were thoroughly rinsed before each use with filtered deionized water. Furthermore, a watch glass was placed over the top of the filter during use. Blanks of 0.2 μm filtered deionized water (Milli-Q®) were taken to establish values for contamination in the lab. Microplastics were identified as pieces ≤5mm that possess no cellular structures, are equally thick throughout their entire length, and either clear or homogeneous in color throughout. Any pieces believed to be plastic were probed with a hot dissecting needle. If the material quickly melted or disfigured, the sample was classified as plastic. Biological materials do not melt - they burn and react less to heat..
Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: particles/L; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Van Dorn sampler.
Parameter or Variable: microplastic concentration (measured); Units: particles/kg dry weight; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Shipek grab sampler.

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer microscope net - plankton net sediment sampler - grab sediment sieve

Last Modified: 2023-12-20T14:21:21Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from the Tampa Bay, Florida collected from 2016-06-08 to 2017-07-24 (NCEI Accession 0285700)

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