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Microplastics, road dust, and biological particles drive hazardous urban ice fog formation
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Researchers collected and sublimed ice fog crystals in Fairbanks, Alaska, and found that road dust (66–69%) and tire wear microplastics (13–16%) were the dominant ice-nucleating particles — the first field evidence of microplastics driving hazardous ice fog formation, with biological particles such as lichens contributing an additional 6–10%.
Ice fog is common across high latitudes, with hazardous visibility reductions causing automobile accidents and aviation delays, yet the particles responsible for nucleating ice fog crystals remain a mystery. During winter in Fairbanks, Alaska, ice fog crystals were collected and sublimed, leaving behind residual particles likely corresponding to the ice nucleating particles (INPs). Non-exhaust vehicular emissions were the dominant source of ice fog residual particles, in the forms of road dust (66–69%, by number) and microplastics (e.g., tire wear, 13–16%). Biological particles (e.g., lichens) comprised 6–10%, highlighting their importance as INPs in wintertime urban and boreal environments. These observations demonstrate microplastics acting as INPs in the urban atmosphere, corroborating previous laboratory experiments. The observation of road dust reveals an unintended air quality impact of gravel application for traction on roads. Therefore, developing methods and policies to reduce road wear aerosol may mitigate hazardous ice fog formation.
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Microplastics, road dust, and biological particles drive hazardous urban ice fog formation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed ice crystals collected during urban ice fog events in Fairbanks, Alaska, and found that road dust (66–69%) and microplastics — primarily tire wear particles (13–16%) — were the dominant ice-nucleating particles, demonstrating for the first time that anthropogenic microplastics act as ice nuclei in real-world atmospheric conditions.
Do Microplastics Contribute to the Total Number Concentration of Ice Nucleating Particles?
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This study measured microplastic concentrations in air near roads and estimated whether road traffic-derived microplastics — from tire wear, brake dust, and road markings — contribute meaningfully to the total number of ice-nucleating particles in the atmosphere. The results showed that traffic-related microplastics do add to ice-nucleating particle counts, though their overall contribution relative to other aerosol sources requires further investigation. The findings are relevant because ice-nucleating particles influence cloud formation and precipitation, meaning airborne microplastics could have subtle effects on regional weather patterns.
Do Microplastics Contribute to the Total Number Concentration of Ice Nucleating Particles?
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Researchers modeled road-traffic-related microplastic emissions and estimated their potential contribution to ice-forming particles in clouds. In tropical regions and remote areas like East Antarctica, where other ice-nucleating particles are scarce, microplastics could account for up to 40% of the total ice-nucleating particle concentration. The study suggests that airborne microplastics may be influencing cloud formation and precipitation patterns in ways not previously considered.
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Researchers systematically investigated the ice-nucleating properties of tire-wear particles -- one of the largest global sources of microplastic pollution at approximately 6 million tons annually -- finding that these airborne particles can act as heterogeneous ice nucleating agents capable of influencing cloud glaciation and atmospheric processes during long-range transport.
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