'It naturally raises the question as to whether and how much plastic we're inhaling,' researcher Melanie Bergmann said.
Scientists have found microplastics at"unexpectedly high" quantities in the Arctic snow. The discovery, scientists say, shows these tiny particles of plastic are being transported to one of the most remote regions of the planet through the atmosphere, with the wind carrying it north then dumping it to the ground via precipitation.
Increasingly, research has shown the potential health impacts of microplastics, with lung cancer risk linked to inhaling the particles. However, how these miniscule bits of plastic are transported around the globe is unclear—and understanding this is paramount to understanding the risks posed.
Bergmann said that while microplastics are believed to be transported by the Gulf Stream, their findings also point to atmospheric transportation. Most of the particles were found to be the smallest measurable size range—less than 11 micrometers . The team says particles were likely transported to the Arctic in the atmosphere, being deposited in the snow during precipitation.
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