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

Isabel Goßmann, Dorte Herzke, Andreas Held, Janina Schulz, Vladimir Nikiforov, Christoph Georgi, Nikolaos Evangeliou, Sabine Eckhardt, Gunnar Gerdts, Oliver Wurl and Barbara M. Scholz-Böttcher ()
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Isabel Goßmann: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Dorte Herzke: The FRAM Centre
Andreas Held: Technische Universität Berlin
Janina Schulz: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Vladimir Nikiforov: The FRAM Centre
Christoph Georgi: Technische Universität Berlin
Nikolaos Evangeliou: NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research
Sabine Eckhardt: NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research
Gunnar Gerdts: Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research
Oliver Wurl: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Barbara M. Scholz-Böttcher: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39340-5

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