Microplastics Found in Clouds: A Reminder of Human Impact on the Planet
Key Highlights :
The sky may be one of the last places we would expect to find evidence of human influence, but a recent study published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters has shown that even the clouds are not safe from our pollution. Japanese scientists analyzed cloud water sampled from Mount Fuji and other Japanese mountains and discovered microplastics – particles of plastic that are five millimeters or less across or in length.
Plastic pollution has been linked to a variety of health issues, including cancer, infertility, immune diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease. Microplastics have been found in the fish and other foods we eat, the water we drink, and even in our blood. Now, it appears that microplastics are in the clouds, too, yet another reminder that human influence on our planet extends even to the sky.
The authors of the study noted that their findings suggest that high-altitude microplastics could influence cloud formation and, in turn, modify the climate. They also determined that most of the airborne microplastics originated from the ocean, based on their backward trajectory analysis.
This discovery is a stark reminder of the damage that we are doing to our planet. Every year, more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean from land. This plastic is then broken down into microplastics, which are so pervasive that they have infiltrated our atmosphere and are now found in the clouds.
We must take action to reduce our plastic consumption and limit our plastic waste if we want to protect our planet from further damage. We must also work to develop sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to plastic if we want to ensure a healthier future for our planet and its inhabitants.
