Blown by the wind, 'microplastic' pollution discovered in pristine mountain peaks [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Blown by the wind, 'microplastic' pollution discovered in pristine mountain peaks
Doyle Rice 1 hr ago

We've polluted the deepest oceans with plastic garbage, so it's not surprising we're also ruining our most pristine mountain peaks.


Tiny fragments of microplastic have been discovered in the Pyrenees mountains of southern France, blown there and deposited by the wind, scientists reported Monday. (The Pyrenees are a mountain chain that forms the border between Spain and France.)

Scientists were able to determine that the microplastic – which is plastic that's less than five millimeters in length or about the size of a sesame seed – came from at least 60 miles away.

“It was incredible how much microplastic was being deposited,” French researcher Deonie Allen told National Geographic. “Microplastic is a new atmospheric pollutant,” she said.

In the new study, over a period of five months, scientists found substantial amounts of microplastic fragments, along with film and fiber debris. The researchers determined that 365 microplastic particles per square meter dropped from the sky each day.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/blown-by-the-wind-microplastic-pollution-discovered-in-pristine-mountain-peaks/ar-BBVY78l?li=BBnb7Kz