Just a few years ago, micro plastics were found inside fish and other aquatic living being. Why? — Because of over consumption of plastics across the world and inadequate waste management. And, the fact that plastic take long long long time to degrade this led to a huge accumulation of plastic waste of all sizes in aquatic environments around the world.
Since the almost immortal plastic reached the oceans, in a latest shock to the world these plastic now in a tiny microplastic form have reached to the clouds (troposphere) that cause rain.
Japanese researchers have revealed in a research that Microplastics have finally found their way to the clouds. Researchers believe it can have a serious impact on marine ecosystems and climate change. The researchers have said that this is a big warning and immediate tough steps have to be taken regarding plastic or else it will not be stopped in the coming time and can even pose a major threat to the human body and environment.
In a new study led by Hiroshi Okochi, Professor at Waseda University, a group of Japanese researchers has explored the path of airborne microplastics (AMPs) as they circulate in the biosphere, adversely impacting human health, and the climate.
Their study was recently published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters with contributions from co-authors Yize Wang from Waseda University and Yasuhiro Niida from PerkinElmer Japan Co. Ltd. “Microplastics in the free troposphere are transported and contribute to global pollution. If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed proactively, climate change and ecological risks may become a reality, causing irreversible and serious environmental damage in the future,” explains Okochi.
These microplastic, in atmosphere boundary, when exposed to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation at cloudy altitude, can contribute to greenhouse gases Catalysing climate change and global warming.
Methodology
To investigate the role of these tiny plastic particles in the troposphere and the atmospheric boundary layer, the team collected cloud water from the summit of Mount (Mt.) Fuji, south-eastern foothills of Mt. Fuji (Tarobo), and the summit of Mt. Oyama – regions at altitudes ranging between 1300-3776 meters.Using advanced imaging techniques like attenuated total reflection imaging and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR ATR imaging), the researchers determined the presence of microplastics in the cloud water, and examined their physical and chemical properties.
Conclusion
Accumulation of Airborne Micro Plastics (AMPs) in the atmosphere, especially in the polar regions, could lead to significant changes in the ecological balance of the planet, leading to severe loss of biodiversity.Okochi concludes by saying “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."
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