Microplastic particles are present in the marine atmosphere even in remote parts of the world. These tiny particles come from land sources but are also re-emitted into the atmosphere from the sea, a study by a team of German and Norwegian researchers led by Dr Barbara Scholz-Bottcher of the University of Oldenburg has shown. The scientists analysed air samples taken from various sites along the Norwegian coast all the way up to the Arctic region. The results have now been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
"With our study, we present data on the mass load of different types of plastic in the marine atmosphere for the first time," said Isabel Gossmann, a doctoral candidate at the University of Oldenburg's Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) and first author of the paper. The research team collected the samples during an expedition with the Research Vessel Heincke in 2021. The northernmost destination was Bear Island, the most southerly island of the Svalbard archipelago which lies halfway between the mainland and the archipelago's largest island, Spitsbergen. The team used two different devices to collect air samples. The devices actively pumped in air and were mounted on the bow of the research vessel at a height of twelve metres.
Different types of plastics identified
The scientists analysed the air samples using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. With this method they were able to identify and quantify the different types of plastics in the atmosphere through thermal degradation and selective analysis. They then performed model calculations and reconstructed the sources and distribution paths of the particles, each of which is just a few thousandths of a millimetre in size.
The analysis revealed the omnipresence of polyester particles. Polyethylene terephthalate particles, which presumably entered the atmosphere in the form of textile fibres, were detected in all samples. Other plastic types were also present, including polypropylene polycarbonate and polystyrene. Tire wear particles, the tiny debris abraded from tires during driving and especially braking, were identified as another major source of microplastics. The researchers measured concentrations of up to 37.5 nanograms (one nanogram = one-billionth of a gram) of microplastics per cubic metre of air. "These pollutants are ubiquitous. We find them even in remote polar regions," Gossmann stressed.
Until now, little was known about microplastics pollution levels including tire wear particles in the marine atmosphere. "There are only a handful of studies on the concentration of these pollutants in the air," said team leader Scholz-Bottcher. "Our model calculations indicate that the microplastics in the marine atmosphere come from direct sources on the land as well as from the sea," she added. The team posits that plastic particles floating near the sea surface enter the atmosphere via sea spray and bursting air bubbles produced during stormy weather, for example.
Ships are also a source of microplastics
Microplastics find their way into seawater via rivers, but also through the atmosphere - particles are washed out of the atmosphere by rain, for example. Another potential source is ship traffic: in an earlier study, a team led by Scholz-Bottcher demonstrated that in the open North Sea, the paint and coatings used on ships is the main source of microplastics. In the current study, chemicals such as polyurethanes and epoxy resins typically used in paints and coatings for ships were also found in the a
ir samples.
In addition to researchers from the ICBM, scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, the Technische Universitat Berlin, the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) were also part of the research team.
Research Report:Occurrence and backtracking of microplastic mass loads including tire wear particles in northern Atlantic air
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
8/10
Stock Market Analyst:
6/10
General Industry Analyst:
7/10
Analyst Summary
: This article discusses a study conducted by German and Norwegian researchers led by Dr Barbara Scholz Bottcher of the University of Oldenburg, which has found evidence of microplastic particles in the marine atmosphere, even in remote parts of the world. The research team used two different devices to collect air samples during an expedition with the Research Vessel Heincke in 2021, and used pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the different types of plastics in the atmosphere. The analysis revealed the omnipresence of polyester particles, with polyethylene terephthalate particles, which presumably entered the atmosphere in the form of microfibres from clothes and carpets, being the most common plastic particles observed.The implications of this article are significant for the defense and general industry. The findings of this study suggest that microplastics are pervasive in the atmosphere, and may have potentially far-reaching impacts on marine and general ecosystems. This article highlights the need for further research to understand the extent of the problem and possible solutions. Over the past 25 years, there have been a number of significant events and trends in the space and defense industry, including the increasing awareness of the global plastic pollution crisis, the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, and the development of advanced technologies in the space industry. This article is in line with these events and trends, in that it further emphasizes the need for technological solutions to tackle the issue of plastic pollution.
Investigative Questions
- 1. What are the main sources of microplastic particles in the atmosphere?
- 2. What are the potential impacts of microplastic particles on marine and general ecosystems?
- 3.
Are there any existing technologies that can be implemented to mitigate the problem of plastic pollution?4. How can governments and other relevant stakeholders effectively address the issue of plastic pollution?
5. What are the most effective methods for monitoring the presence of microplastic particles in the atmosphere?
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