In a startling discovery, microplastics have now been found in clouds enveloping the two iconic Japanese peaks, Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama. This revelation adds to the growing list of locations that these miniscule plastic particles have been found, including in the ocean depths, Antarctic ice, and, more alarmingly, within human bodily fluids and tissues. This has led to growing concerns regarding the environmental and health implications of these tiny fragments.
Japanese researchers embarked on a mission to scale the heights of Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama, collecting water sample from the clouds that shroud these peaks. Their findings were nothing short of alarming, with the analysis of these samples revealing a significant presence of microplastics. Shockingly, each litre of cloud water contained between 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of these plastics. The researchers issued a caution that these microplastics could potentially fall back to Earth as ‘plastic rain’, posing a significant threat to the natural environment. In addition, if these microplastics ascend to the upper atmosphere, exposure to sunlight could initiate their degradation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Lead researcher Hiroshi Okochi from Waseda University emphasised the urgent need for proactive measures to combat what he refers to as ‘plastic air pollution’. Failing to address this issue promptly, he warns, could lead to irreversible environmental damage.
In response to the escalating issue of microplastics, the European Union has taken steps to mitigate their prevalence. Notably, measures have been introduced to reduce plastic pellet production by 74% by the end of the decade, with the aim of achieving a 7% reduction in Europe’s microplastic pollution. These pellets, present in nearly all plastic products, can inadvertently leak into the environment at various stages of the supply chain, eventually breaking down into microplastics.
The European Commission estimates that 52,000 to 184,000 tons of plastic pellets are released into the environment annually. A report from the nonprofit Pew Charitable Trusts warns that global microplastic pollution could double by 20140 if no intervention is taken. Siegfried Schmuck, an ocean conservation expert at Pew, underscores the need for mandatory enforcement of existing industry best practices, which have remained voluntary for over three decades. The EU Commission’s proposal provides a pivotal opportunity to make these measures obligatory and, as he asserts, effectively address the third-largest source of microplastic pollution in the EU.
The discovery of microplastics in clouds serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for comprehensive global efforts to combat the pervasive problem of plastic pollution. International cooperation is not just desirable: it is indispensable to address this global crisis and ensure a more sustainable future for our planet.
“Microplastic” by Oregon State University is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.