Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination in Icelandic soils: Insights from pristine, agricultural, and urban environments

Researchers analyzed microplastic accumulation in pristine and remote soils in Iceland to test whether long-range atmospheric transport deposits microplastics in undisturbed environments. Microplastics were detected in Icelandic soils, confirming that atmospheric deposition reaches isolated environments far from plastic sources.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination in Icelandic soils: Insights from remote, agricultural, and urban environments

Microplastics were detected in all Icelandic soil samples from remote, agricultural, and urban sites, with urban soils showing the highest average counts (26,206 particles/kg) and remote soils the lowest (857 particles/kg), confirming that even sparsely inhabited areas experience MP contamination.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Microplastic in the Arctic and Mainland Norway; comparing urban and remote locations

Researchers deployed passive and active air samplers at two remote stations, Ny Alesund in the High Norwegian Arctic and Birkenes on mainland Norway, to compare atmospheric microplastic concentrations, compositions, and deposition rates between urban and remote locations to evaluate the magnitude of long-range atmospheric MP transport to the Arctic.

2024
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Deposition Of Microplastics Recorded In Icelandic Lake Sediments: Estimating Microplastic Fluxes Using Short Sediment Cores

Researchers sampled sediment cores from six remote Icelandic crater lakes to estimate atmospheric microplastic deposition flux rates, finding that Iceland's position within major oceanic currents and weather patterns makes it a sentinel site for studying long-range Arctic-bound microplastic transport.

2025
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastics in the Arctic Region: An examination of deposited and suspended atmospheric microplastics in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic deposition and suspension in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, finding microplastics in both deposited and airborne samples from this remote High Arctic location and characterizing dominant polymer types and potential source regions.

2024
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Prevalence and Heterogeneity of Meso- and Microplastic Pollution in Icelandic Waters

Surface water sampling around Iceland found mesoplastics and microplastics at all six coastal sites, with nearshore locations near populated areas showing higher concentrations, suggesting local human activity contributes to plastic pollution even in remote subarctic waters.

2022 Environments 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Polar Particles: Atmospheric Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic Region – an examination of deposited and suspended microplastics in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

Researchers collected both deposited and suspended atmospheric microplastics in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in the first study of its kind in the high Arctic planetary boundary layer. Despite the remote location, measurable concentrations were found, implicating long-range atmospheric transport as a key pathway for microplastic deposition in polar regions.

2025
Article Tier 2

Investigating microplastic flux rates in icelandic lakes: Linking atmospheric deposition to precipitation patterns

This study measured microplastic deposition rates into Icelandic lakes and linked the patterns to local precipitation, suggesting that rainfall and snowfall are key mechanisms driving plastic particles out of the atmosphere and into freshwater. Iceland's remote location makes these findings particularly striking, demonstrating that atmospheric microplastic transport reaches even sparsely populated sub-Arctic regions.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigating microplastic flux rates in icelandic lakes: Linking atmospheric deposition to precipitation patterns

This study measured microplastic deposition rates into Icelandic lakes and linked the patterns to local precipitation, suggesting that rainfall and snowfall are key mechanisms driving plastic particles out of the atmosphere and into freshwater. Iceland's remote location makes these findings particularly striking, demonstrating that atmospheric microplastic transport reaches even sparsely populated sub-Arctic regions.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Atmospheric Microplastic in remote and urban locations in Norway; occurrence, composition and sources

Researchers compared atmospheric microplastic deposition at two contrasting Norwegian sites - the remote High Arctic station at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard and the rural mainland site at Birkenes - using both passive and active air samplers for wet and dry deposition. The study examined whether southern European ocean currents transport microplastics to Arctic Norway and assessed the relative contribution of urban emission sources to remote atmospheric microplastic loads.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The occurrence and sources of microplastics to Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches: human influence on local microplastic hotspots

Researchers characterized microplastic occurrence and sources at Arctic and sub-Arctic beaches, finding that proximity to human settlements creates local hotspots, while more remote beaches receive microplastics primarily through long-range oceanic transport.

2024
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Atmospheric Microplastic in remote and urban locations in Norway; occurrence, composition and sources

Researchers used passive and active air samplers at two Norwegian sites — Ny Ålesund (High Arctic) and Birkenes (mainland Norway) — to compare atmospheric microplastic deposition between remote and urban locations, assessing the role of ocean currents and urban emission sources in transporting MP to the Norwegian Arctic.

2025
Article Tier 2

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.

2019 Environmental Pollution 317 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition drives microplastic contamination in remote lakes of Newfoundland, Canada

Researchers found significant microplastic contamination in lake sediments across remote areas of Newfoundland, Canada, with concentrations between 6,000 and 24,000 particles per kilogram. Because the lakes are in sparsely populated areas with minimal water inflow, the pollution is attributed to atmospheric transport via wind, rain, and snow from distant sources. The study demonstrates that microplastics can travel through the atmosphere and accumulate even in isolated, high-latitude freshwater environments.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Macroplastic in soil and peat. A case study from the remote islands of Mausund and Froan landscape conservation area, Norway; implications for coastal cleanups and biodiversity

Researchers documented macroplastic accumulation in soil and peat on the remote Norwegian islands of Mausund and Froan, finding that marine plastic litter transported to these coastal conservation areas poses threats to terrestrial biodiversity and complicates cleanup efforts.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 41 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Unveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator

Microplastic abundance and distribution were documented across surface waters and sediments of an oceanic island, with findings indicating both local land-based pollution and ocean gyre-driven deposition of particles from distant sources.

2024 Sustainability 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and sources of microplastics on Arctic beaches: Svalbard

Researchers sampled four beach sites near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to assess microplastic contamination in the Arctic. They found microplastics at all sites, with higher concentrations closer to human settlements and wastewater discharge points. The study suggests that even remote Arctic beaches are receiving microplastic pollution, primarily from local sources rather than long-range ocean transport.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in soils on the high-altitude area of the Tibetan Plateau: Multiple environmental factors

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in soils across different land use types on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, a remote and sparsely populated region. The study found that microplastic abundance varied with land use, altitude, meteorological conditions, and distance from roads, with greenhouse soils showing the highest concentrations, indicating that even remote high-altitude environments are not free from microplastic pollution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Snow as an indicator of atmospheric transport of anthropogenic particles (microplastics and microfibers) from urban to Arctic regions

Researchers collected snow samples from urban Toronto, remote regions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and the unpopulated high Arctic to track atmospheric transport of microplastics. They found anthropogenic particles, including microplastics and microfibers, present in snow across all locations, with concentrations decreasing from urban to Arctic areas. The study provides evidence that microplastics are transported long distances through the atmosphere and deposited even in the most remote regions of the planet.

2024 Arctic Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of oceanographic processes and sedimentological settings on the deposition of microplastics in marine sediment: Icelandic waters

Researchers analyzed microplastics from marine sediment cores collected at eight sites on the Iceland continental shelf, examining how oceanographic processes and sedimentological settings influence the deposition and distribution of microplastic debris on the seafloor.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in snow from protected areas in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan

Researchers found microplastics in snow samples from protected nature areas and urban sites across Hokkaido, Japan, with over half of particles smaller than 60 micrometers, confirming that snowfall acts as a carrier depositing airborne microplastics even in remote locations.

2023 Scientific Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics in Antarctica and New Zealand.

Researchers detected airborne microplastics at two remote sites in Antarctica and New Zealand, including in previously pristine regions far from human habitation. The presence of microplastics in Antarctic air demonstrates that atmospheric transport can carry plastic particles to even the most remote corners of the planet.

2021 University of Canterbury Research Repository (University of Canterbury) 1 citations