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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Spatial variability of atmospheric deposition of microplastic in moutain environments
ClearAssessing 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.
Microplastics Identification in Remote Aquatic Environments Using Raman Spectroscopy: A Case Study for Mt. Tymfi's Alpine Lake
Researchers analyzed water from a remote alpine lake on Mt. Tymfi in Greece, a pristine environment with minimal human activity, and still found microplastics at a concentration of about 0.021 particles per liter. The most common types were polyethylene fragments and PET and nylon fibers, identified using Raman spectroscopy. The presence of microplastics even in such an isolated location underscores how far-reaching plastic pollution has become, likely transported by wind and atmospheric deposition.
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 microplastic transport in remote ecosystems: High-mountain lakes of the western alps
Researchers investigated microplastic transport to and accumulation in high-mountain lakes in remote ecosystems, using atmospheric deposition measurements and lake sediment analysis. Even at elevations above human habitation, microplastics were deposited from the atmosphere, with concentrations tracking regional air circulation patterns.
High-mountain lakes as indicators of microplastic pollution: current and future perspectives
This review assessed microplastic pollution in high-mountain lakes, finding these remote ecosystems serve as valuable indicators of atmospheric microplastic transport and global contamination patterns despite limited research to date.
Microplastic pollution in mountain terrains and foothills: A review on source, extraction, and distribution of microplastics in remote areas
This review examines microplastic pollution in mountain terrains and foothills, finding that atmospheric transport and tourism are major sources, with snow samples containing the highest concentrations compared to streams or ice cores.
Investigating microplastic transport in remote ecosystems: High-mountain lakes of the western alps
Researchers investigated microplastic transport in high-mountain lakes in a remote region, examining how atmospheric deposition and watershed processes deliver plastic particles to these sensitive and isolated ecosystems. Microplastics were detected in lake water and sediments, confirming that long-range atmospheric transport is a significant delivery pathway to remote alpine environments.
Origins and ecological risk of atmospheric microplastics at a remote background site in Japan
Atmospheric microplastics collected at a high-altitude site were traced to both local and long-range transport origins, revealing the broad geographical spread of airborne plastic particles. The ecological risk assessment found potential impacts on vulnerable high-elevation ecosystems far from pollution sources.
Microplastic pollution in the surface water and sediments from Kallar Kahar wetland, Pakistan: occurrence, distribution, and characterization by ATR-FTIR
Researchers analyzed the composition and abundance of microplastics in snow samples from Antarctica, the Pyrenees, and urban Europe, finding particles at all sites including the most remote. Polyester fibers were universal, reinforcing the role of long-range atmospheric transport.
First evidence of airborne microplastics in the sub-Antarctic Beagle Channel: Detection and characterization by infrared and Raman microspectroscopies
Researchers conducted the first study of airborne microplastics in the sub-Antarctic Beagle Channel using passive samplers deployed over 18 months on an uninhabited island near Ushuaia, Argentina, with characterisation by FTIR and Raman microspectroscopies. Fibers dominated at over 80% of particles, with polyamide, polyester, polyethylene, and semi-synthetic cotton identified, demonstrating that atmospheric microplastic deposition reaches remote sub-Antarctic environments.
Automated μFTIR Imaging Demonstrates Variability in Microplastic Ingestion by Aquatic Insects in a Remote Taiwanese Mountain Stream
Researchers used focal plane array micro-FTIR spectroscopy to characterize microplastic ingestion in aquatic insects from a high-altitude stream (~2,000 m) in a Taiwanese national park. Microplastic ingestion was detected in nearly all insect taxa examined, with polyethylene (65%) dominating and most particles smaller than 500 µm, demonstrating that MP contamination reaches even remote, low-pollution environments.
The use of bioindicators to assess airborne microplastic deposition in remote peatlands of La Réunion
Using peatland mosses as bioindicators, researchers documented atmospheric microplastic deposition at remote sites on Reunion Island, finding that even isolated tropical peatlands receive measurable airborne microplastic inputs from distant sources.
Distinct dynamics in mountain watersheds: Exploring mercury and microplastic pollution—Unraveling the influence of atmospheric deposition, human activities, and hydrology
Researchers investigated mercury and microplastic co-contamination in mountain freshwater ecosystems, analyzing brown trout, biofilm, and sediment to assess geospatial distribution and identify pollution sources in high-altitude environments.
Atmospheric deposition of microplastics: a sampling and analytical method including the associated measurement uncertainties
Researchers developed and validated a tailored analytical chain—including sample collection, processing, and FPA-µ-FTIR analysis—for quantifying atmospheric microplastic deposition at particle sizes of 20–215 µm. The protocol enabled reliable measurement of MP fallout rates, supporting studies of the atmosphere as a major MP transport pathway.
First study on microplastic contamination in French lacustrine environments, in the alpine and subalpine zones
This French-language study reports the first assessment of microplastic contamination in Alpine and sub-Alpine lakes in France. The findings show that even remote mountain lakes have detectable microplastic pollution, suggesting that atmospheric deposition carries plastics to areas far from urban sources.
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.
Characteristics, sources and potential ecological risk of atmospheric microplastics in Lhasa city
Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics collected at a monitoring site, identifying their sources, size distribution, polymer composition, and potential ecological risks from aerial deposition to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Spatial distribution of microplastic contamination on alpine glaciers
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.
Evidence of microplastics in remote alpine lakes of the eLTER network
Researchers detected microplastics in two remote alpine lakes of the European Long-Term Ecological Research (eLTER) network, providing the first evidence of MP contamination in these high-altitude freshwater systems. Atmospheric deposition was identified as the likely transport pathway to these geographically isolated ecosystems.
Primer reporte de microplásticos en los Andes Peruanos: el caso del Glaciar Paccha en la cordillera central, Huarochirí-Lima
Researchers report the first detection of microplastics in a tropical glacier in the Peruvian Andes, the Paccha Glacier in the central mountain range. Surface samples of snow and ice were collected and analyzed using micro-Raman spectroscopy to identify the polymer composition of suspected microparticles. The study provides evidence that plastic pollution has reached remote high-altitude ecosystems far from population centers.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes
Surface water samples from Italian subalpine lakes were found to contain microplastics, including fibers and fragments, at concentrations suggesting atmospheric deposition and local tourism as contributing sources. The study extends microplastic monitoring to high-altitude freshwater lakes, showing that even remote mountain water bodies are affected by plastic pollution.
Microplastics in biotic and abiotic compartments of high-mountain lakes from Alps
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in two remote high-altitude lakes in the Italian Alps, finding plastic particles in lake sediments, tadpoles, and fish (but not in open water or zooplankton), with younger fish accumulating more microplastics than older ones — suggesting fish as useful pollution indicators even in pristine mountain environments.
An early comparison of nano to microplastic mass in a remote catchment's atmospheric deposition
Researchers compared the mass of nano-sized plastic particles (below 0.45 micrometers) to larger microplastics in atmospheric deposition at a remote mountain site in the French Pyrenees. Nanoplastic mass concentrations were comparable to microplastic mass concentrations, though estimated particle counts for nanoplastics were orders of magnitude higher, suggesting nanoplastics may dominate atmospheric plastic by number.
Preliminary investigations on microplastic and microfiber pollution in NW Italian Alps glaciers
Researchers conducted preliminary investigations of microplastic and microfiber pollution at four glaciers in the NW Italian Alps, finding that atmospheric transport delivers these micropollutants even to remote high-altitude environments far from urban sources.