Microplastics on Wheels: A Hidden Threat to Alpine Ecosystems
Vehicle Tyres Found to be Biggest Source of Nanoplastics in the High Alps
Vehicle tyres have been identified as the largest source of nanoplastic pollution in the high Alps, according to a pioneering project by Expert mountaineers and scientists who teamed up to collect contamination-free samples. They are now scaling peaks to produce the first global assessment of Microplastics“>nanoplastics[/highlight].
Nanoplastics are tiny plastic particles that are easily carried around the world by winds. ‘They are even smaller than microplastics, which have already been found to pollute every corner of the planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans.’ Researchers are concerned about the health impact of ubiquitous plastic pollution, and nanoplastics may be even more dangerous than microplastics as they can penetrate cell membranes and remain lodged in the body.
The Alpine survey, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found nanoplastics in five of the 14 sites sampled in the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. The most abundant nanoplastic was tyre particles (41%), followed by polystyrene (28%) and polyethylene (12%). Each tyre on the world’s 1.6 billion vehicles can lose up to 4kg during its lifetime, making vehicle tyres a significant source of tiny plastic pollution.
To avoid contamination, the team developed a collection method that avoided using gear and clothing made from plastic. The collection kit had to be light enough for the mountaineers to carry on their expeditions. ‘These are pretty hardcore expeditions – if you give the mountaineers too much weight, they will struggle,’ said Dr Al Gill, who led the Alpine expedition.
The results showed that collecting triplicate samples of snow in small glass vials, plus a blank sample as a control, delivered uncontaminated readings. Prof Andreas Stohl, at the University of Vienna, who was not part of the study team, said a global map of nanoplastics would break important new ground. He noted that nanoplastics are particularly concerning for health as they can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
The project is now scaling up to collect samples from remote places around the world, including Svalbard and Iceland in the Arctic, Mount Everest, India, Wyoming, Alaska, and northern Canada. The Global Atmospheric Plastics Survey plans to get further samples from these locations, as well as from other European regions such as the Spanish Pyrenees, Poland, and Norway.
Global sampling efforts involve collecting data from diverse populations to understand trends, patterns, and correlations.
This approach helps researchers identify representative samples, reducing biases and increasing the accuracy of findings.
Techniques such as stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling are employed to ensure a comprehensive representation of the population.
Global sampling efforts have numerous applications in fields like medicine, economics, and environmental science, enabling data-driven decisions and policy-making.
Nanoplastics: A Growing Concern for Health
Microplastics and nanoplastics are both types of plastic pollution, but they differ in size.
Microplastics range from 5 millimeters to 1 centimeter in diameter, while nanoplastics are smaller than 0.001 millimeter.
Nanoplastics can enter the human body through ingestion or inhalation and have been linked to oxidative stress and inflammation.
Microplastics, on the other hand, can cause physical harm and block digestive tracts in marine animals.
Both types of plastics contribute to the estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste entering oceans annually.
Microplastics“>Nanoplastics[/highlight] have been found in human blood, semen, breast milk, and brains, livers, and bone marrow, indicating widespread contamination of people’s bodies. The impact on health is still unknown, but laboratory studies have shown that microplastics can cause damage to human cells. Microplastics have also been linked to strokes and heart attacks.
Human nanoplastic exposure occurs when individuals are exposed to tiny plastic particles, typically measuring between 1-100 nanometers in size.
These nanoparticles can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.
Research suggests that nanoplastic exposure may lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage.
Studies have found nanoplastics in human blood, breast milk, and placental tissues, highlighting the potential risks to human health.
The 'need for further research on nanoplastic toxicity and its impact on human health' has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The study highlights the need for a global assessment of nanoplastics to understand their sources and impacts on human health. ‘It will be the first study of global background nanoplastic pollution,’ said Dr Dušan Materić, at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany. ‘We need to establish that baseline so we can come back in future decades and see if things have got better or worse.’
Efforts to Reduce Nanoplastic Pollution
The project aims to identify the sources of nanoplastics and guide efforts to reduce pollution. The team is working with policymakers and industry leaders to develop strategies for reducing nanoplastic emissions from vehicle tyres.
In related news, another group of explorers has completed a 1,000km traverse of Oman‘s vast desert landscape to collect micro- and nanoplastic samples. The Mission Spiritus team collected 52 sand samples for analysis at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
The study emphasizes the need for urgent action to reduce plastic pollution and its impacts on human health.
