Researchers in Japan have confirmed that microplastics are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting the climate in ways that are not yet fully understood.

The team identified nine different types of polymers and one type of rubber in the airborne microplastics, which ranged in size from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometres.

Each litre (0.26 gallon) of cloud water tested contained between 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of the plastics.

“If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed proactively, climate change and ecological risks may become a reality, causing irreversible and serious environmental damage in the future,” lead author of the research, Hiroshi Okochi of Waseda University, warned in a statement on Wednesday.

When microplastics reach the upper atmosphere and are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, they degrade, contributing to greenhouse gasses, Okochi said.

Waseda University said in a statement on Wednesday that research shows that “microplastics are ingested or inhaled by humans and animals alike and have been detected in multiple organs such as lung, heart, blood, placenta, and faeces”.

Emerging evidence has linked microplastics to a range of effects on heart and lung health, as well as cancers, in addition to widespread environmental harm.

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[–] AbstractifyBot@beehaw.org 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Here's the best summary I could make of the linked article

Japanese scientists have found microplastics present in cloud water samples collected from Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama. Analysis revealed between 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of microplastic per liter of cloud water. Nine types of polymers and one type of rubber were identified. Microplastics have been shown to degrade when exposed to sunlight, contributing to greenhouse gases. This suggests microplastics may now be an intrinsic part of clouds and the atmosphere. Microplastics are ingested by both humans and animals, and have been detected in various organs. An estimated 10 million tons of microplastics end up in the oceans each year through ocean spray. If not addressed, plastic air pollution poses risks to climate change and the environment.

The study provides the first evidence of microplastics present in cloud water.

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