10.18453/rosdok_id00004364 Reineccius, Janika Melina Janika Melina Reineccius http://d-nb.info/gnd/1295765101 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5253-2979 Universität Rostock 2023 540 Chemistry & allied sciences 2023 en http://purl.uni-rostock.de/rosdok/id00004364 urn:nbn:de:gbv:28-rosdok_id00004364-9 This study investigated the abundance and weathering processes of microplastics in different aquatic systems. Particle flux analysis showed that polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the most abundant in the deep subtropical Northeast Atlantic during the period 2003-2015. In addition, an atmospheric transport pathway for PE and a seasonal dependence of PVC fluxes were found. The weathering experiment showed that polypropylene was the most susceptible polymer type, with a correspondingly low abundance in the deep Atlantic particle flux.