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Microplastics are raining down from the sky
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Researchers linked microplastic fallout rates in precipitation to atmospheric air mass movements, finding that wind and rain transport microplastics from urban and agricultural source regions to remote locations. The study demonstrated that microplastics are now cycling through the atmosphere much like natural aerosols.
Microplastic waste has become so prevalent in the environment that it is being picked up and transported by the wind and the rain. We linked plastic fallout rates with air-mass movements to understand where plastics are coming from, how far they are travelling, and how much of them is raining out of the sky. - submission by Janice Brahney
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Distribution and transport of atmospheric microplastics and the environmental impacts: A review
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This review examines the distribution, transport, and environmental impacts of atmospheric microplastics, synthesizing evidence that airborne plastics are found globally from urban centers to remote polar regions. The authors identify deposition via precipitation as a major pathway by which atmospheric microplastics contaminate soil and water surfaces.
Microplastics: All Up in the Air?
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This review examines evidence for airborne microplastics, finding that plastic particles are transported through the atmosphere via wind and deposited in remote environments far from sources. Researchers discuss the implications for atmospheric monitoring, human inhalation exposure, and the global microplastic cycle.
Synthetic fibers in atmospheric fallout: A source of microplastics in the environment?
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Researchers found synthetic fibers in atmospheric fallout collected across a study region, demonstrating that airborne transport is a pathway for microplastic fiber deposition even in areas distant from direct plastic sources.
The atmospheric microplastics deposition contributes to microplastic pollution in urban waters
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Researchers investigated how atmospheric deposition contributes to microplastic pollution in urban waters. The study found that microplastic deposition fluxes were higher during wet weather than dry weather and showed moderate to strong correlations with atmospheric conditions, demonstrating that airborne microplastic fallout is a meaningful source of contamination in urban water environments.
Microplastics in total atmospheric fallout: Monitoring in suburban and agricultural sites
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Tiny plastic particles are literally falling from the sky in both suburban and farm areas, according to this study tracking microplastics in atmospheric fallout. This matters because these particles can settle on crops, soil, and water sources, meaning we may be breathing them in or ingesting them through food without realizing it.
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.