Microplastic Contamination: High Alert To Humans

Past several years have repeatedly marked that how microplastic particles are detected in sea-water, drinking water, and even in animals. But have you ever thought that are these minute particles also transported by the atmosphere and are subsequently washed out of the air, especially when attacked by snow and this happens even in remote regions of Arctic and Alps. The above fact was demonstrated by a study research that was conducted by experts at the Alfred Wegener Institute and a Swiss colleague which got published recently in the journal Science Advances.
We all are aware of the fact that our oceans are filled with plastic litter which has now become a common knowledge. According to the study it is clear that several tonnes of plastic litter lead their paths into water bodies like rivers, coastal waters and even in deep seas. Microplastic is basically the litter which gets broken down into smaller pieces due to the UV radiation from the sun. This microplastic which formed due to working of UV is generally found in seawater, marine sediments and in marine organisms. A little research in this sector suggests to what extent these microplastic particles are transported in our atmosphere.

An expert’s team from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) has currently came up with something new, the team has found out that microplastic particles that are transported to longer distances are later washed by precipitation.
The AWI researchers also found the highest concentration in samples that gathered near a rural road in Bavaria, the quantity reached up to 154,000 particles per litre. And the data became more worse when even the snow in the Arctic contained up to 14,400 particles per litre. There was an array of plastics which was found, in the Arctic, the researchers chiefly found nitrile rubber, acrylates and paint, which are used as a host of applications. Due to its resistance towards various types of fuels and broad range of temperature it is often used in gaskets and hoses.

Lastly, there's another major question that arises that to date there have been virtually no study done which investigates the extent to which we humans are open to a microplastic contamination. In addition to this most research are now focusing on how animals or human beings absorb microplastic from whatever they are eating.

By: Prerana Sharma
Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190814144503.htm