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Microplastic Contamination in Snow from Western Italian Alps
Marco Parolini1, Diego Antonioli2, Franco Borgogno3
1Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|January 22, 2021
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) were found in snow from the Italian Alps, with polyethylene being the most common type. Concentrations varied, suggesting atmospheric deposition and local human activities contribute to MP contamination in high-mountain ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Microplastic (MP) contamination is increasingly documented in remote environments like soils and glaciers.
- Data on microplastic presence in snow, particularly in alpine regions, remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of microplastics in residual snow from the Aosta Valley, Italian Alps.
- To assess potential differences in microplastic concentrations based on location accessibility and human presence.
Main Methods:
- Residual snow samples were collected from four distinct locations in the Aosta Valley.
- Microplastics were identified and characterized using micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR).
Main Results:
- Eighteen microplastics were detected in the snow samples, predominantly fragments (61%) over fibers (39%).
- Polyethylene (PE) was the most abundant polymer (7 MPs), followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density PE (HDPE).
- Mean microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.39 to 4.91 MPs/L, with no statistically significant difference among sampling sites.
Conclusions:
- Microplastics are present in alpine snow, indicating potential contamination pathways via atmospheric deposition or local human activities.
- Reducing plastic use and dispersal in mountain areas could mitigate microplastic contamination in these sensitive ecosystems.
