Plastics in clouds: Japanese scientists confirmed microplast

Microplastics: It is a topic which has been widely discussed by all environmentalists, scientists and researchers globally. Initially, we discover microplastics in fish, then in breast milk, then in our blood, and in our brain as well. Should it surprise us? Yes! Are we surprised? Maybe not; because when we look around we are surrounded by plastic literally everywhere, every time.

But now, as we speak, Microplastics have been detected by Japanese researchers in clouds, which suggests it's likely that they exert an unforeseen impact on the climate.

In a study that was published in Environmental Chemistry Letters, researchers hiked Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama to collect water from the mists that covered their peaks. They then used cutting-edge imaging techniques to analyse the samples to find out their chemical and physical properties.

The airborne microplastics, which ranged in size from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometres, were found to contain nine different types of polymers and one form of rubber, as reported by the research team.

The amount of plastic in each litre of cloud water ranged from 6.7 to 13.9 pieces.

Furthermore, the high number of "hydrophilic" or water-loving polymers suggests the particles play a key role in the rapid formation of clouds and consequently climate systems.

According to Okochi, when microplastics enter the upper atmosphere and are exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun, they disintegrate and produce greenhouse gases.

In a statement, lead author Hiroshi Okochi of Waseda University warned, "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.”

Microplastics, or plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres, can be found in a broad range of places, including industrial waste, textiles, synthetic automobile tyres, items for personal care, and more.

These minute pieces have been found in fish, on Arctic sea ice, and in the snow on the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. They have also been found inside fish in the deepest parts of the ocean.