We already knew that there were microplastics in our bodies, in the oceans, in the snow or even in the rivers. But now, we know that there are also some in the purest ambient air there is: in the high mountains! At least that’s what the CNRS in a recent press release.
At 2,877 meters above sea level, on the Pic du Midi, microplastics were discovered in the air, “thanks to a pump installed at the Pic du Midi Observatory sucking in 10,000 m3 of air per week”, specifies the research center. What was found? One microplastic approximately every 4 m3. They specify that this does not represent an immediate risk in this quantity for human health.
Where do the microplastics found in the air come from?
They would come from polystyrene or polyethylene packaging, even though this place is very far from polluted spaces. Thanks to mathematical modeling of the trajectories of air masses, the researchers estimate that these microplastics have made very long journeys. “These plastics would come from Africa, North America or even the Atlantic Ocean, confirming an intercontinental air transport of microplastics”, notes the CNRS.
This is not the first time that this type of pollution has been discovered in remote places, it had already been proven that microplastics were found on Everest. We also know that they have the ability tointegrate and stagnate in the human bodyas demonstrated by a recent study that focused on baby stool.
Source: CNRS
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