AI Article Synopsis
- The study reveals that airborne microplastic concentrations in the Tibetan Plateau vary between 2.5 and 58.8 n/m in urban, rural, and wildland areas, primarily consisting of small fragments (about 89% <100 µm).
- Major types of microplastics identified include polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyamide, and polystyrene.
- The distribution of these microplastics is linked to human activities, with higher concentrations found in areas with greater population density and nighttime light, indicating that nearby villages contribute to microplastic pollution even in remote regions.
Article Abstract
The concentration of airborne microplastics is largely unknown in the remote high mountain area of the Tibetan Plateau. Here we report airborne microplastic concentrations of 2.5-58.8 n/m in urban, rural and wildland areas across the Tibetan Plateau, with smaller (∼89% <100 µm) fragments (>80%) dominating. Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyamide and polystyrene were the dominant polymers of airborne microplastics on the Tibetan Plateau. Distribution of airborne microplastics was positively correlated with anthropogenic activity indices, such as population density and nighttime light intensity. Although the contribution of long-range atmospheric transport is valid, dispersed villages also appear to be a source of airborne microplastics for wildland areas across the Tibetan Plateau.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133177 | DOI Listing |
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