TOKYO: Researchers in Japan have confirmed microplastics are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting the climate in ways that aren’t yet fully understood.
A study detailed in Environmental Chemistry Letters describes how scientists ascended Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama to gather misty water samples from their summits. Employing advanced imaging techniques, they scrutinized the physical and chemical attributes of the samples.
The airborne microplastics discovered encompassed nine distinct polymer types and one rubber type, ranging from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometers in size. Each liter of cloud water contained between 6.7 to 13.9 plastic pieces. Notably, a substantial proportion of “hydrophilic” or water-attracting polymers indicated a potential role in swift cloud formation and, consequently, climate systems.
Lead author Hiroshi Okochi from Waseda University cautioned that if the issue of “plastic air pollution” is not proactively addressed, it could lead to tangible consequences such as climate change and ecological risks, causing irreversible environmental damage in the future. Okochi also highlighted that when microplastics reach the upper atmosphere and are exposed to sunlight’s ultraviolet radiation, they degrade, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters, originate from various sources such as industrial discharges, textiles, synthetic tires, and personal care products. While these minute fragments have been discovered in diverse environments, including deep-sea fish, Arctic Sea ice, and mountainous snow cover between France and Spain, the mechanisms of their airborne transport have remained unclear.
The research signifies a milestone as it presents the first report on airborne microplastics in cloud water. Emerging evidence has linked microplastics to a spectrum of health impacts, including heart and lung issues, cancers, and broader environmental harm. Consequently, understanding and addressing airborne microplastic transport could be crucial in mitigating these potential threats.
