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Microplastics in snow from protected areas in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan
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Researchers found microplastics in snow samples from protected nature areas and urban sites across Hokkaido, Japan, with over half of particles smaller than 60 micrometers, confirming that snowfall acts as a carrier depositing airborne microplastics even in remote locations.
Snowfall is regarded as a carrier of airborne microplastics (MPs). Deposited snow can function as a temporary reservoir for atmospheric MPs. Nevertheless, knowledge and understanding of MPs in snow remain sparse. This study investigates the abundance, composition, size (> 30 µm), and shape of MPs in snow specimens from various nature preservation areas and also from urban sites in Hokkaido. Various polymeric-type MPs with mostly fragmentary shapes were detected among the specimens. More than half of MPs were in the smallest size class (30-60 µm), implying the presence of more MPs below the limit (< 30 µm). Concentrations of MPs ranged from 1.5 × 102 to 4.2 × 103 particles/L. The results demonstrated that microplastic abundance generally decreases concomitantly with increasing remoteness of sampling sites. Observed features of MPs at different locations and their relation to geographical settings have indicated that the ubiquitously observed fine particles (mainly alkyd, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and polyethylene) are attributable to long-distance atmospheric transportation, whereas the rubber and larger particles especially found near highways and cities are from local sources of plastic. Taken together, these findings suggest important implications for elucidating the nature and distribution of atmospheric MPs.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in snow from protected areas in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers sampled snow from protected natural areas in Hokkaido, Japan, and found microplastics in all samples. Fibers and fragments were the most common particle types, suggesting airborne particles traveled to this remote region before being deposited with snowfall. The findings show that even protected ecosystems are not immune to atmospheric microplastic deposition.
Blown to the North?: microplastic in snow fallen out from the atmosphere of Europe and the Arctic
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Researchers detected microplastics in snow collected across Arctic and European locations, providing evidence that the atmosphere transports microplastics over long distances and deposits them in remote environments far from human activity.
Microplastics in the snow cover of the south of Western Siberia
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Researchers detected microplastics in snow samples from the south of Western Siberia, Russia, confirming that atmospheric deposition is a significant pathway for microplastic entry into remote terrestrial environments. Fibers were the most common form found, likely originating from textiles.
Microplastics captured by snowfall: A study in Northern Iran
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Fresh snow samples collected from 29 locations across urban and remote regions of northern Iran were analyzed for microplastics after a period of sustained snowfall, finding plastic particles at concentrations ranging from undetected to high levels depending on location. The study demonstrates that snowfall acts as an atmospheric scavenging mechanism for airborne microplastics and that urban areas show substantially higher deposition than remote sites.
Snow as an indicator of atmospheric transport of anthropogenic particles (microplastics and microfibers) from urban to Arctic regions
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Researchers collected snow samples from urban Toronto, remote regions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and the unpopulated high Arctic to track atmospheric transport of microplastics. They found anthropogenic particles, including microplastics and microfibers, present in snow across all locations, with concentrations decreasing from urban to Arctic areas. The study provides evidence that microplastics are transported long distances through the atmosphere and deposited even in the most remote regions of the planet.
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