We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics captured by snowfall: A study in Northern Iran
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Samples of fresh snow (n = 34) have been collected from 29 locations in various urban and remote regions of northern Iran following a period of sustained snowfall and the thawed contents examined for microplastics (MPs) according to established techniques. MP concentrations ranged from undetected to 86 MP L (mean and median concentrations ~20 MP and 12 MP L, respectively) and there was no significant difference in MP concentration between sample location type or between different depths of snow (or time of deposition) sampled at selected sites. Fibres were the dominant shape of MP and μ-Raman spectroscopy of selected samples revealed a variety of polymer types, with nylon most abundant. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed that some MPs were smooth and unweathered while others were more irregular and exhibited significant photo-oxidative and mechanical weathering as well as contamination by extraneous geogenic particles. These characteristics reflect the importance of both local and distal sources to the heterogeneous pool of MPs in precipitated snow. The mean and median concentrations of MPs in the snow samples were not dissimilar to the published mean and median concentrations for MPs in rainfall collected from an elevated location in southwest Iran. However, compared with rainfall, MPs in snow appear to be larger and more diverse in their shape and composition (and include rubber particulates), possibly because of the greater size but lower terminal velocities of snowflakes relative to raindrops. Snowfall represents a significant means by which MPs are scavenged from the atmosphere and transferred to soil and surface waters that warrants further attention.
More Papers Like This
On the nature and sources of microplastics (MPs) and microrubbers (MRs) in urban snow
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics and microrubber particles found in urban snowfall across five sites in central Iran. Using microscopy and atmospheric trajectory modeling, they determined that both local sources and long-range atmospheric transport contributed to the contamination. The study demonstrates that snow acts as a collector of airborne microplastic pollution and can reveal the mix of nearby and distant pollution sources affecting a region.
First evidence of microplastic deposition in snow from Turkey
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected the first evidence of microplastic deposition in snow from Turkey, finding 10.5 to 16 microplastic particles per liter in samples from Amanos Mountain, with fibers dominating and wind trajectory analysis suggesting both local agricultural sources and long-range atmospheric transport.
Microplastics deposited by snowfall in local and remote areas: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Blown to the North?: microplastic in snow fallen out from the atmosphere of Europe and the Arctic
AI summary Read the abstract
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 snow from protected areas in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
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.