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Beiträge, die mit Microplastics getaggt sind


Antarctic Snow harbors Microplastics: New Technique uncovers hidden Pollution.

Scientists have discovered microplastics in the snow near some of Antarctica's deep field camps, revealing how far-reaching plastic pollution has become. While not new, it's the first time these tiny pieces of plastic have been found in remote locations.

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969725001779

#antarctica #microplastics #pollution #nature #science #engineer #media #chemistry #tech #news
The study was conducted at field camps, at Union Glacier and Schanz Glacier (near the Ellsworth Mountains), where researchers were carrying out field work, and the South Pole where the US Antarctic Program has a research station. It is the first time a new and advanced technique has been used to detect microplastics as small as 11 micrometers (about the size of a red blood cell) in the snow in Antarctica.

The findings surprised the team as microplastics were found at concentrations ranging from 73 to 3,099 particles per liter of snow. Most of these particles (95%) were smaller than 50 micrometers (0.005 cm, the size of most human cells), suggesting previous studies may have underestimated the extent of microplastic pollution in the region due to less sensitive detection methods.

Previous methods involved hand-picking particles and fibers out of samples for laboratory analyses. However, the newer technique involves melting snow through filter paper and scanning this at a high resolution, using infrared spectroscopy, so any plastics above 11 micrometers can be identified.

Microplastics have already been detected in several penguin, seal and fish species.
[ImageSource: Steve Gibbs, BAS]

A view over the Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica.

Dr. Emily Rowlands, a marine ecologist at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and co-author of the paper says, "With these developing techniques, we're now able to analyze microplastics of a much smaller size than before. In fact, we found microplastic abundance in these snow samples to be 100 times higher than in previous studies of Antarctic snow samples."

Dr. Clara Manno, an ocean ecologist at British Antarctic Survey, adds, "We think this means that there are local sources of plastic pollution, at least when it comes to polyamide. This could come from outdoor clothing, or the ropes and flags that are used to mark safe routes in and around the camp.

"We need to do more research to fully understand the sources of microplastic pollution in Antarctica—how much of it is local, and how much is transported over long distances so we can explore how best to reduce this plastic pollution in one of the most pristine places on Earth."

Some research suggests that microplastics could affect the snow's albedo (how much light it reflects) and how quickly it melts. It can also be transported to areas of ecological importance.


🔴 Artist: #LIHILL / #AaronLiHill in City: #Margate / Westbrook, 33 Westcliff Rd/ UK 🇬🇧 10/2022 - Title: "Ocean in Red" - (📷 by Rebecca Douglas) - #Art #Streetart #Mural #Artist #SprayArt #Microplastics #Clothing #Painting - Website: https://li-hill.com/
Streetartwall A mural of a woman surrounded by a sea of red was painted on the outside wall of a four-storey modern building. The picture shows a young woman without hair, wearing white jeans and a white blouse, who appears to be floating on the wall. She raises her arms in front of her up to her head. Behind her is another person who looks almost exactly the same, with her arms raised high. Everything around her is red with little white snowflakes. The bright colors of the clothes are blurred, as if they are moving or underwater. The snowflakes are interrupted by larger pieces.
Info: The mural has the theme of microplastics and environmental pollution. It shows a person who wants to break out of this cycle. In addition to the snowflakes, small pieces of plastic are floating next to her, detaching from her clothes and polluting the environment.


"Microplastics and nanoplastics in tea: Sources, characteristics and potential impacts"

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814624037610?via%3Dihub

"Clearly, all tea-based drinks, including bottled products and hot beverages involving tea leaves and teabags, are contaminated by MNPs arising from multiple sources, including packaging, water and tea leaves themselves."

VIA @MaryAustinBooks VIA @meltedcheese

#microplastics #tea #MNP #plastic #press
Different types of tea beverage (blue rectangles) and their constituents and potential sources of MNPs (coloured ovals). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)


'Extremely toxic': Doctor issues warning over paper straws. So, what do we use now?

#Sustainability #HealthAwareness #Microplastics #DrJoshRedd #AlternativesToStraws

https://www.dailydot.com/news/doctor-warning-paper-straws/