Japanese scientists find microplastics in clouds. This discovery helps us further understand climate change.
Each litre of cloud tested contained 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of micro plastics. The microplastics in the upper atmosphere are said to be affected by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This contributes to greenhouse gases which are be-devilling the world.
The study in which Japanese scientists find microplastics in clouds was published on Environmental Chemistry Letters journal. The scientists climbed Mount Oyama and Mt. Fuji to collect water from mists that is found around the peak. They applied advanced imaging techniques to the samples to determine the chemical and physical properties.
The scientists identified 9 different types of polymers as well as one type of rubber in the microplastics. The microplastics 7.1 to 94.6 micrometres. Each litre of cloud water tested contained 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of plastics.
“If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed pro-actively, climate change and ecological risks may become a reality, causing irreversible and serious environmental damage in the future,”a statement by Professor Hiroshi Okochi of Waseda University read in part.
Japanese scientists find microplastics in clouds which come from textiles, personal care products, industrial effluent, synthetic car tires. The plastics have been found in fish in Spain and France.
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