We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in the Mount Terminillo (Rieti, Italy) Snow’s
AI summary Read the abstract
Snow collected at six sites on a 2,216-meter mountain in Italy contained up to 74 microplastics per liter of meltwater, dominated by synthetic microfibers from textiles and technical outdoor clothing. The finding confirms that even remote, high-altitude mountain snowpack is contaminated, meaning microplastics are transported through the atmosphere far from any pollution source.
Microplastics (MPs) concentrations in atmospheric fallout is a growing environmental concern, this paper reports data regarding the MPs pollution determined using snow samples collected in wintertime and in 6 different areas on Mount Terminillo (2216 m a.s.l.) a typical Apennines massif located north of Rome. Assessment results show that the maximum average concentration found on snow is 74.69 ± 71.43 MPsL−1 of melted snow. The results of the characterization show that the most common MPs form was microfibers having dimensions < 5 mm. The largest MPs were characterized by Fourier Transformed IR (FTIR) analysis, among the polymer materials, the most abundant were polyamide (PA, 25.93%), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 22,23%), polyester (PES, 17.28%) polypropylene (PP, 8.64%) and polyethylene (PE, 7.40%). The presence of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) fibers and a fragment of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS), typical materials of technical clothing, shows that MPs contamination is also due to recreational activities as well as atmospheric deposits. The Carbonyl Index values indicated that some MPs (PE, PP) are degraded. The analysis of the sampled snow and the comparison with the results of similar papers, confirms the extension of the phenomenon related to the diffusion of microplastics in the environment indicating the severity of the atmosphere and the recreational activities as a source of pollution. Furthermore, this research has demonstrated that snow can be an effective environmental matrix to monitor the presence of MPs but standardized testing protocols could be upgraded to improve the comparability of the results obtained.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic in Glacier Region: Presence, Distribution, and Possible Sources
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented the presence, spatial distribution, and likely sources of microplastics in glacier regions, highlighting ice sheets as both sinks and delayed-release reservoirs for plastic pollution. The findings demonstrate that human activity has extended microplastic contamination even into the most remote high-altitude environments on Earth.
Reaching New Heights in Plastic Pollution—Preliminary Findings of Microplastics on Mount Everest
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic fibers (microplastics) in snow and stream water near the top of Mount Everest, yes, even in one of the most remote places on Earth. This matters because it shows plastic pollution has spread virtually everywhere, including into water sources that eventually flow down to communities living below, raising concerns about how much of this plastic we're unknowingly breathing, drinking, and eating.
Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented atmospheric deposition of microplastic fragments, films, and fibers in a remote, pristine mountain catchment in the French Pyrenees, with particles traveling up to 95 km through the air. This landmark study confirmed that microplastics reach even the most isolated terrestrial environments through wind transport, meaning no ecosystem on Earth is truly free from plastic contamination.
Microplastics in the Terrestrial Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This book synthesizes current research and knowledge gaps regarding microplastic impacts across terrestrial ecosystems, including soils, plants, and land-dwelling organisms. Compiling terrestrial microplastic research is essential as land environments receive far more microplastic input than oceans yet remain comparatively understudied, particularly regarding food crop contamination and soil ecosystem disruption.
Effects of Microplastics in the Cryosphere
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics have been detected at surprisingly high concentrations in the cryosphere — glaciers, sea ice, and polar snow — with melting ice acting as a release mechanism that redistributes accumulated plastics into freshwater and marine systems. This finding means climate change and plastic pollution are compounding threats, as warming accelerates the release of long-stored microplastic reservoirs into ecosystems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.