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Microplastic contamination in remote mountain lakes of the americas: a baseline assessment from Patagonia and Northern California
Summary
Scientists found tiny plastic fibers and fragments in remote mountain lakes across Patagonia and Northern California—even in places far from cities, roads, or heavy tourism. This suggests microplastics are traveling through the air and water systems on a massive scale, not just leaking from nearby trash or pollution, meaning there may be no truly "untouched" water left on Earth. Since these lakes often feed into drinking water supplies, the findings are a reminder that microplastic exposure is becoming a global, unavoidable issue rather than just a local problem.
Plastic pollution and its effects on freshwater ecosystem function are increasingly recognized, with recent research demonstrating that even remote environments are impacted. Despite growing evidence, the relative importance of local versus large-scale transport processes in delivering microplastics (MPs) to remote mountain lakes remains poorly understood. Surface water samples were collected by net trawling in 15 remote mountain lakes, eleven in the Patagonia region of Argentina and four in Northern California, United States, and analyzed by stereomicroscopy and Raman spectroscopy for MP concentration, shape, size, color, and polymer composition. MPs (≥ 80 µm) were detected at all sites, with concentrations ranging from 0.23 to 2.79 particles m −3 (mean: 0.75 ± 0.62 particles m −3 ). No significant difference in MP concentration was observed between regions (U = 12; p = 0.215), despite contrasting socioeconomic contexts. Fibers were predominant (70%), followed by fragments (24%) and films (6%), with most particles measuring less than 1 mm and over half under 0.5 mm. Ten polymer types were identified, with polyester (PES) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) most common, primarily as fibers. No significant relationships were found between MP concentration and watershed characteristics, proximity to urban areas, public access, or altitude. The consistent MP signature across these remote lakes, regardless of morphology, accessibility, or geographic region, suggests that diffuse, large-scale transport mechanisms such as atmospheric deposition and watershed connectivity are more influential than localized point sources in remote freshwater systems. However, certain lakes near urban infrastructure or camping areas exhibited higher MP concentrations, indicating that localized anthropogenic influences may still contribute in specific cases. These findings underscore the extensive impact of MP pollution and highlight the need for coordinated mitigation strategies at local, regional, and global scales.