Environmental Studies and Forestry

Atmospheric transport is a major pathway of microplastics to remote regions

N. Evangeliou, H. Grythe, et al.

This groundbreaking study by N. Evangeliou and colleagues reveals that a staggering 34% of tire wear particles and 30% of brake wear particles emitted from road traffic are making their way into the World Ocean. The research highlights the Arctic as a sensitive hotspot where microplastics could exacerbate warming and melting of the cryosphere.

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Abstract

This study presents global simulations of atmospheric transport of microplastic particles from road traffic (tire wear particles (TWPs) and brake wear particles (BWPs)). The simulations reveal high transport efficiencies to remote regions, with about 34% of emitted coarse TWPs and 30% of emitted coarse BWPs deposited in the World Ocean. These amounts are comparable to estimated direct and riverine transport. The Arctic is identified as a particularly sensitive receptor region, where light-absorbing properties of TWPs and BWPs could accelerate warming and cryosphere melting.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Jul 14, 2020

Authors

N. Evangeliou, H. Grythe, Z. Klimont, C. Heyes, S. Eckhardt, S. Lopez-Aparicio, A. Stohl

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