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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Long-range atmospheric transport of microplastics across the southern hemisphere
ClearAirborne 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.
Airborne and marine microplastics in the Southern Ocean environment
Researchers collected atmospheric deposition and seawater samples during a voyage from New Zealand to the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and detected microplastics throughout the Southern Ocean, contributing rare data from one of the world's most remote regions to understanding atmospheric and marine plastic transport.
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.
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.
Airborne microplastic pollution detected in the atmosphere of the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica
Researchers conducted a year-long study at an Antarctic research station and found airborne microplastics in the atmosphere of the South Shetland Islands. The study identified a wide variety of plastic polymers, indicating that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote parts of the planet. These findings underscore how pervasive plastic contamination has become, extending far beyond populated areas.
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.
Microplastics in Antarctic air: revealing current findings
This review examines the growing body of evidence on microplastic air pollution in Antarctica, one of the most remote places on Earth. Researchers found that both micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in Antarctic air, posing potential threats to this fragile ecosystem and its freshwater reserves. The study emphasizes that global action to reduce microplastic emissions is essential, since these particles can travel vast distances through the atmosphere.
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.
High debit sampling of airborne micro and nanoplastics in remote sea
Researchers developed a high-volume air sampler to detect micro- and nanoplastics in remote marine environments far from populated coastlines. The study confirms that plastic particles are transported through the atmosphere to even isolated ocean regions, demonstrating that no environment is free from airborne plastic pollution.
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.
Aerosol mass concentrations and dry/wet deposition of atmospheric microplastics at a remote coastal location in New Zealand
Researchers quantified airborne microplastic concentrations at a remote coastal site in southern New Zealand using both active and passive sampling methods. They found plastics comprised at least 0.14% of total suspended particulate mass, with air trajectory analysis suggesting the Southern Ocean as a source. The study indicates that counting microplastics by number alone may significantly underestimate true atmospheric plastic pollution, since the smallest and most abundant particles escape microscopic detection.
Airborne microplastic concentrations in remote coastal environments
Researchers measured airborne microplastic concentrations at coastal sites in New Zealand near the Southern Ocean to assess whether sea-spray generates significant atmospheric plastic loads. Microplastics were detected at all coastal sampling locations despite the region's remoteness from plastic production, suggesting marine-to-atmosphere transfer is an important pathway even in pristine coastal environments.
Occurrence and backtracking of microplastic mass loads including tire wear particles in northern Atlantic air
Scientists measured airborne microplastic concentrations, including tire wear particles, in the atmosphere over the Norwegian coast and Arctic waters using specialized air sampling devices. They detected microplastics even in remote Arctic locations, with tire wear particles being the most abundant type found. Atmospheric transport modeling suggested these particles enter the marine atmosphere from both land and sea sources, indicating that airborne transport is a significant pathway for microplastic pollution reaching remote ocean regions.
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.
Microplastics in bulk atmospheric deposition along the coastal region of Victoria Land, Antarctica
Researchers collected atmospheric samples from eight sites along the coast of Antarctica throughout 2020 and found microplastics falling from the air at all locations that were successfully sampled. The most common particles were tiny polypropylene and polyethylene fragments under 10 micrometers in size. Analysis of air movement patterns suggested that some of these microplastics may have traveled long distances through the atmosphere to reach even the most remote Antarctic sites.
The transport and fate of microplastic fibres in the Antarctic: The role of multiple global processes
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across air, seawater, and sediment samples in the Antarctic Weddell Sea and identified 47 distinct microplastic categories, predominantly fibers. The overlap of fiber types across different sample media suggests that microplastics reach Antarctica through multiple transportation pathways, including atmospheric and oceanic currents. The study demonstrates that even one of the most remote regions on Earth is affected by diffuse microplastic pollution from global sources.
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.
First evidence of microplastics in Antarctic snow
Researchers collected snow samples from 19 sites across Antarctica's Ross Island region and found microplastics in every sample, confirming that synthetic polymer particles have reached even this most remote environment. The findings show that atmospheric transport has delivered microplastics to pristine Antarctic snow far from any plastic sources.
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.
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.
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.
Exponential decrease of airborne microplastics: From megacity to open ocean
Researchers measured atmospheric microplastics across the western Pacific Ocean and found concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from megacity sources, confirming that atmospheric transport is a major pathway for microplastics entering the open ocean.
Global Modeling of Microplastics in the Atmosphere
Researchers modeled global atmospheric microplastics and estimated that over 100 kilotons of particles are suspended in the air at any time, with adults worldwide inhaling up to 1.5 billion microplastic particles per year, and even remote regions like Antarctica receiving significant deposition.
Microplastics in the atmosphere: transportation and impact on humans
This chapter reviews the origins, atmospheric transport, distribution, and characterization of airborne microplastics. The authors note that microplastics have been detected in urban, suburban, and remote regions, raising the possibility of long-distance atmospheric transport. The study highlights significant knowledge gaps about the global distribution and health risks of airborne microplastics due to limitations in detection technologies and sampling methods.