A groundbreaking study has identified vehicle tyre wear as the largest source of nanoplastic pollution in the high Alps, shedding light on a previously underestimated environmental threat. In collaboration with expert mountaineers, scientists have embarked on a pioneering mission to assess nanoplastic contamination globally. Unlike microplastics, which have already been found in the most remote corners of the planet, nanoplastics are even smaller, capable of penetrating cell membranes, entering the bloodstream, and remaining lodged in the human body, raising serious health concerns.
Dr DuÅ¡an Materić from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research described the study as a significant step forward in tracking pollution, stating, “We need to establish a baseline so we can come back in future decades and see if things have got better or worse.”
Researchers have expanded their efforts following successful sampling in the Alps, collecting glacier snow samples from locations as far-flung as the Mountains of the Moon (Uganda-Congo border), Bolivia, Nepal, and Antarctica. In 2025, the Global Atmospheric Plastics Survey will extend its reach to the Arctic, Mount Everest, the Spanish Pyrenees, and North America, among others, to further analyze how nanoplastics travel through global wind currents and infiltrate even the most isolated landscapes. Scientists emphasize that these findings are crucial for tracking the spread of nano plastics over time and advocating for stronger policies to curb plastic pollution at its source. With increasing evidence of plastics infiltrating the environment at an alarming rate, this study underscores the urgency of addressing the invisible contaminants reshaping ecosystems worldwide. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Zoe Salt