Scientists first discovered microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow in a study that they say highlights “the extent of plastic pollution worldwide.” Researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand collected snow samples from 19 locations in Antarctica and all contained tiny plastics, according to scientific research published this week in the journal Cryosphere. The research revealed an average of 29 microplastic particles per liter of melted snow. Of the 13 types of plastics, the most common was polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used to make clothes and soft drink bottles. When PhD student Alex Aves went to Antarctica to collect samples in 2019, “we were optimistic he would not find any microplastics in such a pristine and remote location,” Associate Professor Laura Revell said in a statement Wednesday. However, he added, “from studies published in recent years, we have learned that wherever we look for airborne microplastics, we find them.” The UN adopts a historic resolution aimed at ending plastic pollution Tiny plastic particles, which can come from man-made fibers, damaged consumer products and other sources, are mostly undetectable to the naked eye – “much smaller than a grain of rice”, as this study describes them. But from the deep oceans to Mount Everest, they have become almost ubiquitous in a world that produces billions of pounds of plastic waste each year. Humans can also consume them with water and food, although their effect on human health is not yet clear. The US is the largest contributor to plastic waste, according to a report While previous research had identified tiny particles in Antarctic Sea sediments and surface waters, the New Zealand study marks the first time they have reported fresh snow, according to scientists. The most likely source of airborne microplastics is local research stations, from clothing or equipment, although the results also suggest that the particles may have traveled through the air from sources more than 3,700 miles away, they said. Noting an “increasing threat to the Antarctic ecosystem,” the study said the microplastics could lead to impaired biological and reproductive functions in exposed organisms, from krill to penguins. It has also been reported in previous findings that particles deposited in snow or ice caps can accelerate melting, in part by absorbing light. “It’s incredibly sad,” said researcher Aves, “but finding microplastics in the fresh snow of Antarctica underscores the extent of plastic pollution even in the most remote parts of the world.”
