Reaching New Heights in Plastic Pollution—Preliminary Findings of Microplastics on Mount Everest

Abstract

Highlights d Microplastics were found in snow and stream water samples on Mt. Everest d The highest microplastics were discovered in a sample from 8,440 m.a.s.l. d Most microplastics were polyester fibers, likely from clothing and equipment d Technological advances could minimize microplastic pollution from exploration

Analysis of the polyester clothing value chain to identify key intervention points for sustainability

“…Outdoor microfibers can be carried by the wind and can fall as dust in the city [ 110 ] or in remote areas, as reported for lakes in Mongolia [ 111 ] and the Pyrenees [ 95 ]. A recent study reported the presence of polyester microfibers on Mount Everest, probably from clothing and equipment based on the detection of greater concentrations of microfibers near major camping sites [ 112 ]. Furthermore, precipitation can trap airborne microfibers and deposit them on the ground [ 95 , 113 ].…”

A Perspective of the Cumulative Risks from Climate Change on Mt. Everest: Findings from the 2019 Expedition

“…That scarp cuts into an earlier massive rockslide--the Khumjung slide, which is currently the sixth-largest rockslide documented in Nepal [ 12 ]. This massive rockslide resulted from a 2.1 × 109 m 3 volume of rock material sliding southward off the Khumbila peak, where remnants make up the small E–W-trending ridge that separates Khumjung and Kunde from Namche [ 4 ]. Rockslides of this magnitude are thought to account for a large percentage of the erosion across the high-relief Himalaya [ 13 , 14 ].…”

“…Everest was considered the highest junkyard in the world [ 83 ]. More recently, the field team from this expedition found many items such as plastic bottles, oxygen bottles, food wrappers, food waste, and cigarette butts [ 4 ].…”

“…Our research has identified that the increase in climbers over the last 50 years has resulted in associated increased accumulation of anthropogenic waste, including litter along trekking trails and microplastic build-up [ 4 , 36 ]. Our teams found microplastics throughout samples on the mountain, suggesting that deposition may be ubiquitous [ 4 ].…”

“…National Geographic and Rolex's Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition (hereafter the 2019 Everest Expedition) sought to complete novel, interdisciplinary research at and above 5,000m, including biology, geology, glaciology, mapping, and meteorology [1] to fill gaps in knowledge in these regions [2]. This 60-day expedition utilized diverse methodology to analyze water, soil, ice and general topography of the mountain [1,3,4]. While this methodology has been acknowledged in previously published work, the risk profiles of the diverse dynamics discovered have not been compiled.…”