Global inventory of atmospheric fibrous microplastics input into the ocean: An implication from the indoor origin

Kai Liu; Xiaohui Wang; Zhangyu Song; Nian Wei; Haoda Ye; Xin Cong; Longwei Zhao; You Li; Liming Qu; Lixin Zhu; Feng Zhang; Changxing Zong; Chunhua Jiang; Daoji Li

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123223

Global inventory of atmospheric fibrous microplastics input into the ocean: An implication from the indoor origin

J Hazard Mater. 2020 Dec 5:400:123223. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123223. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Authors

Kai Liu¹, Xiaohui Wang¹, Zhangyu Song², Nian Wei², Haoda Ye³, Xin Cong⁴, Longwei Zhao⁵, You Li⁶, Liming Qu⁷, Lixin Zhu², Feng Zhang², Changxing Zong², Chunhua Jiang², Daoji Li⁸

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, Intergovernmental Oceanography Commission-United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
³ School of Fisheries, Zhejiang Ocean University, 1 South Haida Road, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316000, China.
⁴ Department of Hydraulic Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
⁵ Forth Hydrological Engineering Geology Brigade, Hebei Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration, 3 East Lengdongchang Road, Cangzhou, Hebei, 061000, China.
⁶ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, 59 Cangwu Road, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, 222005, China.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University (Xiang-an Campus), 4221 South Xiangan Road, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China; Regional Training and Research Center on Plastic Marine Debris and Microplastics, Intergovernmental Oceanography Commission-United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China. Electronic address: daojili@sklec.ecnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32947683
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123223

Abstract

Atmospheric transport could be a significant pathway for inland microplastics (MPs, with size＜5 mm) to the ocean in addition to catchment runoff and coastal discharge. However, atmospheric input of MPs to the ocean is rarely quantified. To address this issue, transport of atmospheric MPs from source to sink was studied in the Asia-Pacific region during nine cruises from October 2018 to September 2019. Both deposited atmospheric MPs (DAMPs) and suspended atmospheric MPs (SAMPs) were collected, ranging from 23.04 n/(m²·d) to 67.54 n/(m²·d), and 0 to 1.37 n/m³, respectively. Size composition revealed that atmospheric deposition of MPs originating in terrestrial regions seems inadequate and insufficient to quantify the atmospheric input to the ocean. In addition, combined with aerodynamic modelling, for the first time, we estimated that 7.64-33.76 t of fibrous atmospheric MPs was globally generated in 2018, which is 3 % and 31 % of riverine input MPs of The Yangtze River and The Pearl River in terms of mid-point mass, respectively. The increasing load of ingestible plastics from sea air could have a far-reaching impact on marine ecosystem.

Keywords: Atmosphere; Ecology; Microplastics; Ocean; Transport.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't