Microplastics in Glaciers: First Results from the Vatnajökull Ice Cap

Abstract

Microplastic particles, as a second-phase material in ice, may contribute to the effect such particles have on the melting and rheological behaviour of glaciers, and thus influence the future meltwater contribution to the oceans and rising sea levels. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to map and understand the presence and dispersal of microplastics on a global scale. In this work, we identified microplastic particles in snow cores collected in a remote and pristine location on the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland. Utilising optical microscopy and µ-Raman spectroscopy, we visualised and identified microplastic particles of various sizes and materials. Our findings support that atmospheric transport of microplastic particles is one of the important pathways for microplastic pollution.

Current status and future perspectives of microplastic pollution in typical cryospheric regions

“…The microfibers in Arctic snow range from 65 to 14 300 μm, approximately 31% are smaller than 500 μm, and European snow fibers are significantly longer than those found in Arctic snow (Bergmann et al, 2019). Plastic fragments and fibers in the snow cores of the Vatnajökull Ice Cap were found to range from ~30-1300 μm and 1300−3000 μm, respectively (Stefánsson et al, 2021).…”

“…4) (Peeken et al, 2018), and of the 19 polymers measured, acrylates/polyurethanes/varnish/lacquer were found to occur most frequently in Arctic snow, with PA/varnish/rubber/EVA and PE dominating European snow (Bergmann et al, 2019). Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) has also been found in the snow cores of the Vatnajökull Ice Cap (Stefánsson et al, 2021).…”

“…However, microplastic particles that were found in the firn cores of the Vatnajökull Ice Cap in Iceland are identified to contain 2-5 items per sample with the size of the plastic fragments ranging from 30−3000 μm (Stefánsson et al, 2021).…”

“…After being released into the terrestrial environment, microplastics can be transported into wetlands, lakes, rivers, oceans, and the atmosphere (Allen et al, 2019;Evangeliou et al, 2020;Hale et al, 2020). In particular, air currents and wind can transport microplastics far from the point of emission (Allen et al, 2019;Brahney et al, 2020;González-Pleiter et al, 2021;Stefánsson et al, 2021). Weather events (e.g., storms) will also facilitate the transport of plastic particles into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Dris et al, 2016;Hitchcock, 2020).…”

“…intensively investigated. Recent research has highlighted the presence of microplastics in the snow and ice of remote cryospheric regions, with focus on the distribution, abundance, sources, and transport of microplastics in snow and ice (Bergmann et al, 2019;Parolini et al, 2021;Stefánsson et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2021). However, in-depth exploration of the occurrence, behavior, and fate of microplastics in the cryosphere lacks comprehensive evaluation compared to that conducted in the marine or atmospheric environments (Brahney et al, 2021;Hale et al, 2020;Lima et al, 2021;Zeng, 2018).…”