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Microplastics deposited by snowfall in local and remote areas: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.
Summary
Tiny plastic particles are falling from the sky with snow — even in remote, seemingly pristine places far from cities — though this analysis of 28 studies found snow near urban and industrial areas contains about six times more microplastics than snow in remote regions. This means plastic pollution isn't staying contained to obvious sources like cities or oceans; it's traveling through the atmosphere and settling into snowpack that feeds our drinking water, soil, and ecosystems, raising concerns about long-term exposure risks that scientists are still working to fully understand.
Microplastics (MPs), as emerging contaminants, are transported to local and remote ecosystems via snowfall. This study constitutes is first systematic review and meta-analysis of MPs deposited in snow, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, incorporating articles searched up to June 2025, and encompassing 28 studies with 474 snow samples. Results indicated that MP concentrations in local areas (97.7 MP/L) were approximately six times higher than those in remote areas (16.4 MP/L) (p < 0.001). Black was the predominant color in both regions; fibers dominated in local areas, while fragments prevailed in remote ones. Smaller particles (<500 μm) were more abundant in both local and remote sites. In terms of polymer types, acrylates were more common in local areas, while polyurethane predominated in remote areas. These differences reflect the influence of local anthropogenic sources and selective atmospheric transport of MPs. The findings underscore the threats to sensitive ecosystems, the exacerbation of climate change, and associated health risks. Recommendations include standardization of methodologies, concurrent local-remote sampling guided by wind patterns, and increased attention to contaminants adsorbed onto MPs.