Researchers have discovered minuscule plastic particles in clouds, potentially contributing to climate change.
Scientists collected water from the clouds surrounding Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama in Japan, at altitudes ranging from 1,300 to 3,776m. They then utilized advanced imaging techniques to determine the presence of microplastics.
A total of nine different types of polymers and one type of rubber were found in the airborne microplastics, with concentrations ranging from 6.7 to 13.9 pieces per liter and sizes ranging from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometers.
The researchers also discovered a significant amount of hydrophilic polymers, which they believe might act as “cloud condensation nuclei.” This suggests that these microplastics play a crucial role in the rapid formation of clouds, which could eventually impact the overall climate.
“Overall, our findings suggest that high-altitude microplastics could influence cloud formation and, in turn, might modify the climate,” the scientists wrote in their study published in the journal Environmental Chemical Letters.
“To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to detect airborne microplastics in cloud water in both the free troposphere and atmospheric boundary layer.”
The lead author of the research, Hiroshi Okochi from Waseda University, stated, “Microplastics in the free troposphere are transported and contribute to global pollution.
“If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not proactively addressed, climate change and ecological risks may become a reality, leading to irreversible and severe environmental damage in the future.”
Mr. Okochi added that airborne microplastics degrade much faster in the upper atmosphere due to strong ultraviolet radiation, which “releases greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming.”
The researchers stated that this is the first report on airborne microplastics in cloud water to the best of their knowledge.
Microplastics may be ‘contaminating nearly everything we eat and drink’
In a statement regarding the study, Waseda University highlighted that research shows “microplastics are ingested or inhaled by humans and animals alike and have been detected in multiple organs such as the lungs, heart, blood, placenta, and feces.”
“10 million tonnes of these plastic bits end up in the ocean, released with the ocean spray, and find their way into the atmosphere,” it said.
“This implies that microplastics may have become an essential component of clouds, contaminating nearly everything we eat and drink through ‘plastic rainfall’.”