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Examination of the ocean as a source for atmospheric microplastics
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Researchers assessed whether the ocean can be a net source of atmospheric microplastics (rather than just a sink), finding evidence that bubble bursting and sea spray can eject plastic particles from ocean surface waters into the atmosphere.
Global plastic litter pollution has been increasing alongside demand since plastic products gained commercial popularity in the 1930's. Current plastic pollutant research has generally assumed that once plastics enter the ocean they are there to stay, retained permanently within the ocean currents, biota or sediment until eventual deposition on the sea floor or become washed up onto the beach. In contrast to this, we suggest it appears that some plastic particles could be leaving the sea and entering the atmosphere along with sea salt, bacteria, virus' and algae. This occurs via the process of bubble burst ejection and wave action, for example from strong wind or sea state turbulence. In this manuscript we review evidence from the existing literature which is relevant to this theory and follow this with a pilot study which analyses microplastics (MP) in sea spray. Here we show first evidence of MP particles, analysed by μRaman, in marine boundary layer air samples on the French Atlantic coast during both onshore (average of 2.9MP/m3) and offshore (average of 9.6MP/m3) winds. Notably, during sampling, the convergence of sea breeze meant our samples were dominated by sea spray, increasing our capacity to sample MPs if they were released from the sea. Our results indicate a potential for MPs to be released from the marine environment into the atmosphere by sea-spray giving a globally extrapolated figure of 136000 ton/yr blowing on shore.
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Researchers quantified atmospheric microplastic emissions from both land and ocean surfaces, finding that re-suspension of deposited plastics from land and sea spray from the ocean are significant sources of airborne particles. The results highlight that the ocean is not just a sink but also a source of airborne microplastics.
Is atmospheric pathway a significant contributor to microplastics in the marine environment?
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Researchers reviewed evidence for atmospheric transport of microplastics to and from marine environments, finding that wind-driven processes like sand storms, bubble bursts, and sea spray can eject microplastics from ocean surfaces into aerosols, making the atmosphere a significant but understudied pathway in the marine microplastic cycle.
Experimental evidence of plastic particles transfer at the water-air interface through bubble bursting
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Experimental evidence showed that bubble bursting at the sea surface can transfer plastic particles from bulk water to sea spray aerosols, providing a mechanism for microplastics to be transported from ocean surface waters into the atmosphere.
Ocean emission of microplastic
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Researchers built a model showing that ocean waves and bursting bubbles can launch microplastics from seawater into the air, estimating that roughly 0.1 million metric tons of microplastic may be emitted from the ocean surface each year. These airborne microplastics can then be carried by wind over land, where they may be inhaled by people. The study reveals an important and previously underappreciated pathway by which ocean microplastic pollution becomes an air quality and human health concern.
A systematic experimental investigation of micro- and nanoplastics aerosolization by oceanic breaking waves
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A systematic experimental study investigated how and to what extent microplastics and nanoplastics are ejected from the ocean surface into the atmosphere through sea spray and bubble bursting. The results showed that a range of particle sizes and types can be aerosolized, but the efficiency varies depending on particle properties and sea conditions. These findings help quantify a potentially significant pathway for microplastics to re-enter terrestrial environments after initially reaching the ocean.
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.