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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigating the long-range dispersion of atmospheric microplastics in the free atmosphere with a numerical model
ClearModelling the Potential Long-Range Dispersion of Atmospheric Microplastics Reaching a Remote Site
Researchers used the Lagrangian particle dispersion model MILORD in backward mode to investigate long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics reaching a remote site, identifying potential source areas for airborne microplastics. The study demonstrates that long-range transport contributes significantly to microplastic deposition at locations far from plastic sources.
Evidence of free tropospheric and long-range transport of microplastic at Pic du Midi Observatory
Researchers found microplastic particles in the free troposphere at nearly 2,900 meters elevation at Pic du Midi Observatory, with air trajectory modeling showing intercontinental and trans-oceanic transport, demonstrating that microplastics can travel vast distances through the upper atmosphere.
Exploring the Transport Path of Oceanic Microplastics in the Atmosphere
Researchers used computer modeling to estimate how microplastics are launched from the ocean surface into the atmosphere and transported around the globe. They identified tropical ocean regions as major emission hotspots and found that tiny plastic particles can travel efficiently through the atmosphere and even reach the stratosphere, where they may linger for months. The study suggests that current estimates of ocean surface microplastic concentrations may be one to two orders of magnitude too low.
Assessing microplastics pollution in the atmosphere and riverine system in the Pyrenees
This study measured airborne microplastics deposited in the Pyrenees mountains — a remote area far from major urban sources — finding significant contamination in both air deposition and river sediments. The results confirm that microplastics are transported long distances by wind and deposited even in pristine mountain environments. Rivers then act as conduits that transport these atmospherically deposited microplastics toward the ocean.
Importance of atmospheric transport for microplastics deposited in remote areas
This study highlights atmospheric transport as a significant and underappreciated pathway for depositing micro- and nanoplastics in remote areas including mountain regions and polar zones far from plastic sources. Airborne plastic particles can travel thousands of kilometers before being deposited, explaining the presence of microplastics in seemingly pristine remote environments.
Microplastics ride the atmosphere
Research confirms that microplastic particles are transported through the atmosphere over long distances, depositing in remote areas including the Arctic and high mountains. Atmospheric transport is now recognized as a major pathway spreading microplastic contamination to virtually every part of the planet.
Atmospheric Microplastics: Inputs and Outputs
Researchers examined how microplastics enter and move through the atmosphere, finding that up to 8.6 megatons per year may be suspended in air above the oceans alone. The particles are launched into the air from ocean spray and land-based sources, then distributed by wind before returning to Earth through rain and dry deposition. The study highlights that atmospheric transport is a major pathway for spreading microplastic contamination to even the most remote regions of the planet.
A review of microplastics pollution and its remediation methods: Current scenario and future aspects
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in atmospheric deposition at remote mountain sites in the Pyrenees, detecting an average of 365 particles per square meter per day. The findings confirm long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics far from pollution sources.
Investigating the Atmospheric Dispersion of Microplastic Particles - A Model Study
Researchers employed the COSMO-Itpas Lagrangian transport model to simulate the atmospheric dispersion of microplastic particles in central Germany, calculating thousands of particle trajectories to identify connectivity between potential sources such as roads, agricultural areas, and water bodies and detection sites.
Modelled sources of airborne microplastics collected at a remote Southern Hemisphere site
Researchers measured airborne microplastic deposits at a remote New Zealand mountain site and used a global atmospheric model to trace where the particles came from, finding that sea spray during long-range wind transport was the dominant source. The study also revealed that shorter sampling periods capture 6 times more microplastics than weekly sampling, suggesting previous studies may have significantly underestimated atmospheric microplastic deposition.
Airborne microplastic particles detected in the remote marine atmosphere
Researchers detected airborne microplastic particles — including polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene — in aerosol samples collected over the remote North Atlantic Ocean far from land. Back trajectory analysis and matching polymer types in both air and seawater suggest the ocean surface itself is a source of airborne microplastics, with true particle counts likely higher than detected since only particles above 5 micrometers were analyzed.
A global atmospheric microplastics dataset and model-assisted insights into their atmospheric emissions
Scientists created the first global map of tiny plastic particles floating in our air and found they're everywhere—even in remote areas far from cities. These microscopic plastic bits can travel huge distances through the atmosphere and may pose health risks because they can carry harmful chemicals into our lungs when we breathe. The research shows that most airborne microplastics come from land-based sources rather than the ocean, helping us better understand how plastic pollution spreads around the planet.
Global atmospheric distribution of microplastics with evidence of low oceanic emissions
This study used atmospheric modeling to estimate the global distribution of airborne microplastics, finding that land-based sources like roads, agriculture, and cities contribute far more to atmospheric microplastics than ocean emissions. The model, validated against real-world observations, suggests that ocean contributions are about 10,000 times lower than previously estimated. Understanding where airborne microplastics come from is important because inhalation is a major route of human exposure.
Efficient Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics over Asia and Adjacent Oceans
Researchers developed an atmospheric transport model for microplastics over Asia, estimating annual emissions of 310 gigagrams and finding that atmospheric transport efficiently carries microplastics from land sources to remote ocean regions across the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Micro(nano)plastics in the atmosphere of the Atlantic Ocean.
This study characterized micro- and nanoplastic particles in atmospheric aerosols collected on a transect from Spain to Chile across the Atlantic Ocean, finding plastics present throughout the open ocean atmosphere. The findings demonstrate that long-range atmospheric transport is a significant pathway for spreading microplastics from source regions across the global ocean.
An Overview of Microplastic Exposure in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Aerosols
Researchers conducted the first multipoint study of atmospheric microplastic exposure across urban, suburban, and rural areas of Madrid, Spain, during the winter season. Using active aerosol sampling and UV-assisted optical microscopy, they found microplastics in all sampling locations, with urban areas showing the highest concentrations. The study provides new baseline data on airborne microplastic levels and uses air mass trajectory analysis to trace potential sources and transport pathways.
Atmospheric Transport, a Major Pathway of Microplastics to Remote Regions
This first global simulation of atmospheric microplastic transport showed that tire and brake wear particles can travel thousands of kilometers from roads to remote regions including polar areas. The model confirms that road traffic is a major global source of microplastic atmospheric deposition in areas far from any direct human activity.
Nanoplastics transport to the remote, high-altitude Alps
Researchers measured nanoplastic concentrations in snow at a remote Alpine observatory over 3,100 meters above sea level, finding an average of 46.5 nanograms per milliliter of melted snow. The dominant plastic types detected were polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate, with air transport modeling tracing their origins to European urban areas. The study demonstrates that nanoplastics can travel long distances through the atmosphere and accumulate even in pristine high-altitude environments.
Atmospheric transport is a major pathway of microplastics to remote regions
Using global atmospheric transport simulations, researchers modeled the dispersal of tire wear particles and brake dust from roads, finding that atmospheric transport is a major — and previously underestimated — pathway delivering microplastics to remote regions far from traffic sources.
Shape Matters: Long-Range Transport of Microplastic Fibers in the Atmosphere
Researchers used atmospheric modeling to explain how microplastic fibers can travel long distances through the air, even reaching remote locations far from population centers. They found that the elongated shape of fibers gives them significantly different aerodynamic properties than spherical particles, allowing them to stay airborne much longer. The study helps explain why microplastics have been detected in pristine environments like mountain peaks and polar regions.
Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere
Researchers conducted the first hemispheric-scale analysis of airborne microplastics, collecting samples along a cruise route from the Northern Hemisphere to Antarctica. They found microplastics present in the atmosphere over the Southern Ocean and near Antarctica, demonstrating that these particles can travel vast distances through the air. The study reveals that long-range atmospheric transport is a significant pathway for spreading microplastic pollution to even the most remote regions on Earth.
Resuspension of microplastic particles from arid regions and global impacts on atmospheric concentrations and deposition
Researchers modeled how microplastics from arid and semi-arid regions are resuspended by wind and transported globally through the atmosphere. The simulations showed that desert regions can be significant secondary sources of airborne microplastic particles, contributing to plastic deposition even in remote ecosystems far from human activity.
Shape matters: long-range transport of microplastic fibers in the atmosphere
This study modeled the long-range atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers, finding that their elongated non-spherical shape causes them to travel much farther than spherical particles before settling. This helps explain why microplastic fibers are found even in the most remote locations on Earth, far from any plastic pollution source.
Bayesian Top-Down Pattern-Restricted Estimates of Atmospheric Microplastics Emissions using Gibbs sampler
Scientists used advanced computer modeling to track where microplastics (tiny plastic particles) in the air are coming from around the world. They found that these airborne plastic particles mainly come from road dust, farming activities, bare soil, and ocean surfaces - and their estimates match what other researchers have measured in different locations. This research helps us better understand how much plastic pollution is floating in the air we breathe, which is important for assessing potential health risks from breathing in these particles.