We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Chemical Analysis of Organic Aerosol Particles and Nanoplastics Deposited on Alpine Glaciers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected samples from alpine glaciers and detected nanoplastic particles alongside organic aerosols, finding that glaciers act as depositories for atmospheric plastic contamination. Nanoplastics were present even in these remote, high-altitude environments far from industrial sources. The findings contribute to understanding long-range atmospheric transport of plastic pollution to pristine environments.
Organic aerosols (OAs) have a significant effect on Earth’s climate due to their radiation scattering properties and potential to be cloud condensation nuclei. OAs occur naturally from biological processes and biomass burning, but anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel burning, residential biomass burning and pollution add to the presence of organic compounds in the atmosphere.In this work we present data from a sampling campaign aimed at investigating the concentrations of nanoplastics and organics on the snow surface in remote Alpine areas. Surface snow samples from 13 locations in the Swiss and French Alps were collected in August 2021 during reconnaissance for an expedition in June 2022. The samples were taken from glaciers at altitudes between 1880 and 3550 m and as far as possible away from areas trafficked by mountaineers. The sampling was performed by mountaineers acting as citizen scientists, and analysis of blank purity proved that well-trained citizens can be a good recourse for high-quality sample access, especially in difficult-to-access mountain locations.Upon arrival at Utrecht University, the snow samples were filtered through a 1 μm PTFE filter before being analyzed using Thermal Desorption - Proton Transfer Reaction - Mass Spectrometry (TD-PTR-MS). This method analyzes semi- and non-volatile organic compounds in the snow samples, which includes unique tracers for biomass burning (e.g. vanillic acid and levoglucosan), biogenic organic aerosols (e.g. pinonic acid) and nanoplastic pollution (e.g. polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene carbonate, and polyvinyl chloride). Further processing will reveal the total organic carbon content, presence of nanoplastics of different polymer types, and the oxidative state of the carbon in the samples.
More Papers Like This
Spatial distribution of microplastic contamination on alpine glaciers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in the supraglacial debris of 13 Alpine glaciers spanning Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria, collecting 70 debris samples to investigate atmospheric deposition as the primary mechanism by which microplastics reach these remote high-altitude environments.
Spatial distribution of microplastic contamination on alpine glaciers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in supraglacial debris from 13 glaciers across the Alps in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria, collecting 70 surface samples between 2020 and 2022. They found putative microplastics in every sample with a mean of 14 items per sample, with one glacier showing significantly higher anthropogenic particle concentrations than others, consistent with atmospheric transport as the primary input mechanism.
Preliminary investigations on microplastic and microfiber pollution in NW Italian Alps glaciers
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted preliminary investigations of microplastic and microfiber pollution at four glaciers in the NW Italian Alps, finding that atmospheric transport delivers these micropollutants even to remote high-altitude environments far from urban sources.
Nanoplastics transport to the remote, high-altitude Alps
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured nanoplastic concentrations in snow at a remote Alpine observatory over 3,100 meters above sea level, finding an average of 46.5 nanograms per milliliter of melted snow. The dominant plastic types detected were polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate, with air transport modeling tracing their origins to European urban areas. The study demonstrates that nanoplastics can travel long distances through the atmosphere and accumulate even in pristine high-altitude environments.
Fine microplastics and nanoplastics in particulate matter samples from a high alpine environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This study detected fine microplastics and nanoplastics in atmospheric particulate matter collected from a high alpine site in the Alps. The findings confirm that even remote mountain environments receive plastic pollution through the atmosphere, adding to evidence of global airborne plastic transport.
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.