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Microplastics in Glaciers: First Results from the Vatnajökull Ice Cap
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Microplastic particles were detected for the first time in ice cores from the Vatnajokull ice cap in Iceland, with concentrations suggesting atmospheric deposition as the primary delivery pathway to this remote glacial environment.
Microplastic particles, as a second-phase material in ice, may contribute to the effect such particles have on the melting and rheological behaviour of glaciers, and thus influence the future meltwater contribution to the oceans and rising sea levels. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to map and understand the presence and dispersal of microplastics on a global scale. In this work, we identified microplastic particles in snow cores collected in a remote and pristine location on the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland. Utilising optical microscopy and µ-Raman spectroscopy, we visualised and identified microplastic particles of various sizes and materials. Our findings support that atmospheric transport of microplastic particles is one of the important pathways for microplastic pollution.
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Sampling and Quantification of Microplastic Pollution on Vatnajökull Glacier
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Researchers conducted a 2024 expedition to Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland to expand MP sampling locations and develop a standardized ice core sampling protocol, building on prior confirmation of microplastic presence to provide a more comprehensive assessment of MP pollution burden on Europe's largest glacier.
Spatial distribution of microplastic contamination on alpine glaciers
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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.
A pilot study about microplastics and mesoplastics in an Antarctic glacier
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In a pilot study, plastic particles including microplastics were detected for the first time on an Antarctic glacier, suggesting that atmospheric transport can deliver plastic pollution to even the most remote glacial environments.
Chemical Analysis of Organic Aerosol Particles and Nanoplastics Deposited on Alpine Glaciers
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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.
Spatial distribution of microplastic contamination on alpine glaciers
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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.
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.