Occurrence and backtracking of microplastic mass loads including tire wear particles in northern Atlantic air

Abstract

Few studies report the occurrence of microplastics (MP), including tire wear particles (TWP) in the marine atmosphere, and little data is available regarding their size or sources. Here we present active air sampling devices (low- and high-volume samplers) for the evaluation of composition and MP mass loads in the marine atmosphere. Air was sampled during a research cruise along the Norwegian coast up to Bear Island. Samples were analyzed with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, generating a mass-based data set for MP in the marine atmosphere. Here we show the ubiquity of MP, even in remote Arctic areas with concentrations up to 37.5 ng m−3. Cluster of polyethylene terephthalate (max. 1.5 ng m−3) were universally present. TWP (max. 35 ng m−3) and cluster of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyurethane (max. 1.1 ng m−3) were also detected. Atmospheric transport and dispersion models, suggested the introduction of MP into the marine atmosphere equally from sea- and land-based emissions, transforming the ocean from a sink into a source for MP.

Unraveling the Marine Microplastic Cycle: The First Simultaneous Data Set for Air, Sea Surface Microlayer, and Underlying Water

“…While the Atlantic air was noticeably polluted with TWP 14 in some areas (37.2 and 13.7 ng TWP m −3 ) and polyisoprene 15 (PI; 51.7 ng PI m −3 ), also a possible indicator for the presence of TWP, no indication for TWP was found in the air samples of the Swedish fjord samples. In contrast to the study by Goßmann et al, 14 the other detected polymer clusters were present in higher orders of magnitude in the Swedish fjords. However, the overall composition of polymer clusters detected in the air samples was similar.…”

“…Especially, the ubiquity of C-PET and C-PS was demonstrated again . The predominance of C-PET was divergent form the findings by Caracci et al Its total absence in any sample of their study was not in line with the data presented here, in Goßmann et al, and other particle related studies (SI, Table S1). This might be attributed to the different and highly complementary analytical approaches of both studies with respect to polymer preconcentration and detection principle.…”

“…However, the overall composition of polymer clusters detected in the air samples was similar. Especially, the ubiquity of C-PET and C-PS was demonstrated again . The predominance of C-PET was divergent form the findings by Caracci et al Its total absence in any sample of their study was not in line with the data presented here, in Goßmann et al, and other particle related studies (SI, Table S1).…”

“…Potential sources for C-PET in the (marine) atmosphere are fibers from, e.g., textiles or ropes. These were already described to occur in high abundances in the air, 5,14,22,48,49 to travel via aeolian transport, and finally, to deposit on the ocean's surface. 13,50 A visual check of the borosilicate substrates revealed the presence of fibers, which might be directly related to the C-PET concentration in the samples (SI, Figure S4).…”

“…Little is known about concentrations, transport, and impact of MP in the sea surface microlayer (SML), overlying air, and underlying water (ULW). Especially when it comes to the marine MP cycle and the transport of atmospheric MP into the marine environment. , Until now, only two mass-based studies , and seven particle number-based studies dealing with marine atmospheric MP have been published. ,− Mass loads up to 38 ng MP m –3 and particle numbers in the range of 0.01 to 85 MP particles m –3 ,− were reported. More details are summarized in the Supporting Information (SI, Table S1).…”