Assessing plastic size distribution and quantity on a remote island in the South Pacific

Plastics are an environmental threat; however, their fate once in the pelagic environment is poorly known. We compare results from assessments of floating plastics South Pacific Ocean with accumulated beach Henderson Island. also plastic mass on during 2015 and 2019 investigate presence nanoplastics. There were differences between size classes plastics, increase microplastics (0.33–5 mm) 2019. Micro- nanoplastics found at all sites (mean ± SE: 1960 356 pieces/kg dw). Across whole this translates to >4 billion particles upper 5 cm. This concerning, particularly given uninhabited distant urban centres (~2350 km Pape'ete, French Polynesia). The vast number small may make nearshore filter feeders susceptible ingestion subsequent detrimental impacts.