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Microplastic in snow from European and Arctic sites
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Microplastics and fibers were found in snow from Arctic sea ice, Svalbard, Helgoland, Bavaria, and the Swiss Alps — identified by FTIR imaging — with Arctic concentrations significantly lower than European snow but still substantial. The study demonstrates atmospheric long-range transport of microplastics, including rubber and varnish particles, to remote environments far from pollution sources.
We analysed microplastic and fibers in snow samples from ice floes in the Fram Strait (2016/17) and from Spitsbergen, Helgoland, Bremen, Bavaria and the Swiss Alps (2018) to assess the role of atmospheric transport of microplastic to the North. Identification of particles was carried out without pre-treatment of samples. MPs were identified by Fourier-Transform Infrared Imaging in 20 of 21 samples. The MP concentration of Arctic was significantly lower (0-14.4 × 103 N L-1) than European snow (0.19-154 × 103 N L-1) but still substantial. Polymer composition varied strongly, but varnish, rubber, polyethylene and polyamide dominated overall. Most particles were in the smallest size range with no saturation, implying that there are yet smaller particles beyond the current detection limit of 11 µm. All samples contained fibers but the proportion of microplastic fibers is uncertain as fibers could not be analysed with the current methodology.
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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.