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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Elevated wet deposition of micro- and nanoplastics in remote mountains driven by free tropospheric transport
ClearAtmospheric microplastic transport and deposition to urban and pristine tropical locations in Southeast Asia
Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic deposition at urban and pristine sites in Malaysia across two monsoon seasons and found microplastics at all locations, including a remote tropical forest. Deposition rates ranged from 114 to 689 particles per square meter per day, with monsoon wind patterns influencing the transport of particles over long distances. The study demonstrates that atmospheric transport is a significant pathway for spreading microplastic contamination to even remote ecosystems in Southeast Asia.
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.
Airborne microplastics in urban, rural and wildland environments on the Tibetan Plateau
Researchers measured airborne microplastic concentrations across urban, rural, and remote wildland sites on the Tibetan Plateau and found microplastics present at all locations, even in pristine high-altitude environments. Urban areas had the highest concentrations, but the presence of microplastics in remote wilderness areas demonstrates long-range atmospheric transport. The study provides some of the first data on airborne microplastic pollution in one of the world's most isolated high-mountain regions.
Fine microplastics and nanoplastics in particulate matter samples from a high alpine environment
This study detected fine microplastics and nanoplastics in atmospheric particulate matter collected from a high alpine site in the Alps. The findings confirm that even remote mountain environments receive plastic pollution through the atmosphere, adding to evidence of global airborne plastic transport.
Remote Mountainous Area Inevitably Becomes Temporal Sink for Microplastics Driven by Atmospheric Transport
A 13-month study of an uninhabited mountainous area in China found microplastics in the air at respirable sizes year-round, with 15 different polymer types detected. Atmospheric modeling traced the sources to populated areas hundreds of kilometers away, showing that wind can carry microplastics to even the most remote locations. The findings mean that virtually no place on Earth is free from airborne microplastic exposure.
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.
Microplastics in Precipitation: Analyzing Altitudinal Influence on Atmospheric Deposition Patterns
Researchers found an inverse relationship between altitude and microplastic deposition in Central Himalayan precipitation, collecting rainfall and snowfall across eight sites from 445 m to 3,378 m elevation and characterizing microplastics by concentration, size distribution, and polymer composition.
Atmospheric microplastic over the South China Sea and East Indian Ocean: abundance, distribution and source
Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic abundance across 21 transects from coastal China to the East Indian Ocean and found that concentrations near the Pearl River Estuary were ten times higher than over the open ocean, with backward trajectory modeling suggesting long-range atmospheric transport exceeding 1,000 km but indicating that atmospheric deposition is unlikely to be the primary source of oceanic microplastic contamination.
Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in a rural region of North China Plain
Researchers investigated atmospheric microplastic deposition in a rural area of the North China Plain, finding significant quantities of microplastics deposited through both dry and wet pathways, with fibers and polyethylene being the dominant types.
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.
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.
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.
Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in the megalopolis (Shanghai) during rainy season: Characteristics, influence factors, and source
Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastic deposition in Shanghai during the rainy season, finding that rainfall events significantly increased deposition rates, with fibers dominating and sources linked to both local urban activities and long-range atmospheric transport.
Atmospheric contribution of nanoplastics to rural and remote surface waters
Researchers measured nanoplastic concentrations in rain and surface water from rural and remote locations in Europe and found that atmospheric deposition is a significant source of nanoplastics even in areas far from industrial activity. Multiple polymer types were detected using advanced mass spectrometry. The findings confirm that airborne nanoplastics are a global phenomenon reaching even pristine environments.
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.
Microplastics and nanoplastics pose risks on the Tibetan Plateau environment
This study documented that microplastics and nanoplastics have reached the Tibetan Plateau through long-range atmospheric transport, threatening one of the world's last relatively pristine environments. The findings highlight the global reach of plastic pollution beyond local sources.
Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a subtropical urban environment
Researchers measured atmospheric wet and dry deposition of microplastics over one year in Guangzhou, China, a subtropical megacity. They found deposition fluxes ranging from 51 to 178 particles per square meter per day, with fibers, fragments, films, and microbeads all detected, indicating that atmospheric transport is a significant pathway for microplastic distribution in urban environments.
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.
Microplastic convergence in high-altitude lakes of the Tibetan Plateau: Mechanisms, indicators, and risk stratification
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in 14 high-altitude freshwater lakes above 4,500 meters on the Tibetan Plateau, a region far from major human activity. Microplastics were detected at every site, with PET as the dominant polymer type, suggesting long-range atmospheric transport and local textile sources. The study developed a geospatial risk model showing that precipitation, surface runoff, and proximity to roads are key factors driving microplastic accumulation even in these remote environments.
Unexpected deposition by rainfall of globally transportable microplastics (<25 μm) hovering over the megacity of Beijing
Microplastics smaller than 25 micrometers were detected in rainfall in Beijing, confirming that precipitation is a significant pathway for depositing atmospheric microplastics back to Earth's surface in urban megacities.
Atmospheric Dry and Wet Deposition of Microplastics in an Urban Area and a Remote Island: Year-Round Consecutive Monthly Observations
Researchers conducted year-round parallel monthly monitoring of atmospheric microplastic dry and wet deposition in urban Seoul and remote Baengnyeong Island, finding that urban areas had significantly higher deposition rates and that long-range transport contributes measurable microplastic fallout even to remote marine locations.
Microplastics in glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for the long-range transport of microplastics
Researchers discovered microplastics in glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote regions on Earth. The presence of plastic particles at such high altitudes and far from population centers provides strong evidence that microplastics can travel long distances through the atmosphere, making this a truly global pollution problem.
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.
High-levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake
Researchers discovered high levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote mountain lake, finding concentrations comparable to lakes in densely populated areas, suggesting that atmospheric deposition can deliver substantial microplastic loads to even isolated environments.