Physical Address
23,24,25 & 26, 2nd Floor, Software Technology Park India, Opp: Garware Stadium,MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431001 India
Japanese scientists have verified the presence of microplastics within clouds, suggesting they might be playing a role in climate change. Various polymers and rubber were identified in cloud water samples collected near Japan’s largest mountain, Mount Fuji, and Mount Ōyama.
In the recent study led by Professor Hiroshi Okochi at Waseda University, researchers examined the impact of airborne microplastics (AMPs) on human health and the climate. Published in the Environmental Chemistry Letters journal, the study included contributions from co-authors Yize Wang from Waseda University and Yasuhiro Niida from PerkinElmer Japan Co. Ltd. Okochi emphasized that AMPs in the upper atmosphere contribute to global pollution and warned that not addressing “plastic air pollution” proactively could lead to future climate change and environmental damage.
Insights from the Study
To understand the role of these tiny plastic particles in the troposphere and atmospheric boundary layer, the research team collected cloud water samples from various locations, including Mount Fuji’s summit, its southeastern foothills (Tarobo), and Mount Oyama’s summit, spanning altitudes from 1300 to 3776 meters. They used advanced imaging techniques like attenuated total reflection imaging and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR ATR imaging) to detect and analyze the physical and chemical properties of microplastics in the cloud water.
The researchers identified nine different types of polymers and one rubber type within the detected AMPs. Notably, a significant portion of the polypropylene in the samples had degraded, containing carbonyl (C=O) and/or hydroxyl (OH) groups. The AMPs’ Feret diameters ranged from 7.1 to 94.6 µm, with the smallest observed in the upper atmosphere. Furthermore, the prevalence of hydrophilic (water-attracting) polymers in the cloud water indicated their role as “cloud condensation nuclei.” These findings confirm the significant role of AMPs in accelerating cloud formation, potentially impacting the overall climate.
Accumulating AMPs in the atmosphere, especially in polar regions, could disrupt the planet’s ecological balance, leading to substantial biodiversity loss. Okochi concludes that “AMPs are degraded much faster in the upper atmosphere than on the ground due to strong ultraviolet radiation, and this degradation releases greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming. As a result, the findings of this study can be used to account for the effects of AMPs in future global warming projections.”
What are Microplastics?
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters, originate from various sources including industrial waste, textiles, synthetic car tires, personal care products, and more. They have been found in fish, distributed in Arctic sea ice, and even embedded in the snow of the Pyrenees mountains along the border between France and Spain.
Despite their prevalence, the ways these microplastics are transported to such diverse locations have remained poorly understood, and there has been limited research specifically focused on the airborne transport of these particles.
How do microplastics find their way into the clouds?
Microplastics have diverse origins, ranging from tiny beads in cosmetics to the breakdown of larger plastic items like bags. As the authors point out, plastics have become incredibly widespread.
While there has been substantial research on how these small fragments enter marine and terrestrial environments, studies on airborne microplastics have been somewhat limited.
There are numerous ways these particles can enter the atmosphere. On land, potential entry points include road dust, landfills, tire wear, and synthetic turf. Additionally, the ocean can transport microplastics into the air through processes like sea spray and aerosolization, making them light enough to be carried by the wind.
In essence, microplastics access the atmosphere through various sources and pathways, with the potential to significantly impact the environment, climate, and human health.
A Growing Concern for Health and Environment
Waseda University noted in an official statement that research indicates that microplastics are ingested or inhaled by both humans and animals and have been discovered in multiple organs.
The university’s statement also mentioned that ten million tons of these plastic particles find their way into the ocean, released through ocean spray, and subsequently enter the atmosphere. This implies that microplastics may have become an integral component of clouds, contaminating nearly every facet of our food and drink through ‘plastic rainfall.
Scientists have earlier found microplastics in human blood, lungs and infant feces. Emerging evidence has established connections between microplastics and a range of health consequences, encompassing impacts on heart and lung health and extensive environmental degradation.
Microplastics in snow at Antarctica and other places
A study published in 2022 found microplastics in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica.
The samples for the study were collected from 19 locations across the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Plastic particles smaller than five millimeters in length were found in every single sample, an average of 29 microplastic particles per liter (approximately one quart) of melted snow.
Microplastics have also been discovered on ocean surfaces, fishes and Arctic ice, contaminating some of Earth’s most remote and pristine areas.
How does plastic impact climate change?
Plastic production, dependent on fossil fuels, significantly contributes to climate change. Throughout the plastic product lifecycle, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accelerate global warming. Each phase of plastic production, from raw material extraction and manufacturing to waste management and environmental release, emits GHGs.
It’s predicted that by 2050, plastic production alone could consume 13% of the planet’s carbon budget, depleting Earth’s carbon reserves due to global GHG emissions. Poor plastic waste management, leading to accumulation in natural areas like riverbanks and coastlines, exacerbates GHG emissions.
Microplastics in the ocean hinder carbon sequestration by delaying GHG release from plastics. Estimated plastic-related GHG emissions from production to disposal could reach 1.34 gigatons per year by 2030 and 2.8 gigatons per year by 2050. This substantial carbon consumption threatens the international community’s ability to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C or 2°C by 2100, endangering the remaining carbon budgets.
Also Read:
If you have any queries or come across suspicious content related to climate change or the environment and want us to verify them, send them to Climate Buddy, our WhatsApp tipline +91 70453 66366.
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022001258
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00559
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2022/first-evidence-of-microplastics-in-antarctic-snow.html
https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.1314705111
https://today.duke.edu/2020/03/microplastic-fibers-linked-respiratory-reproductive-changes-fish
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61948-6
Banner Image: AI Generated
Mt Fuji Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lake-near-mountain-3022942/
