Airborne microplastics may affect the climate in multiple ways

An Anthropocene Magazine article discusses a study looking at microplastics.

From the article:

"Plastics are not just smothering our lands and oceans, they are also in the air we breathe. Microscopic pieces of plastic get swept up from the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere and spiral around the globe, raining down on every corner of the world."

"But how do these airborne microplastics affect the climate? They are a bit of a mixed bag, shows the first study to tackle that question. For now, they have a very slight cooling effect on the climate, researchers report in the journal Nature. But that could flip and microplastics could warm the planet, especially as their density in the atmosphere increases."

"Unless as a species we take serious action to address microplastic pollution, plastic production and waste management practices, the abundance of microplastics will continue to increase, and airborne microplastics could contribute to future changes in climate.” - Laura Revell, atmospheric scientist and the study's author.

Microplastics are caused by our used and disposal of plastic items. This includes single use plastics, but also plastic items that we have in our home. Washing polyester clothing or microfibre cloths also causes microplastics to be spread through our waterways, and they are often not removed in the water treatment process.

Read the rest of the article here or view the original study here.

Plastic is a very useful material, but has drastic consequences for the environment. At Twist and Sprout we aim to reduce the amount of plastic for customers by providing bulk refill options, as well as sourcing products made from plastic-free materials, and with no packaging or plastic-free packaging. Check out the online store to see how we can help you on your plastic-free journey.