Microplastics (MPs) are of emerging concern in the environment. As evidence regarding MPs long-distance transmission grows, it becomes crucial to study their cross-border transport characteristics. However, transport paths and transboundary transport fluxes of MPs are still unknown. Chinese team have established novel methods based on the mass spectrum to quantify environmental MPs, making it possible to investigate and assess the mass flux of typical MPs. Researchers will work on the atmospheric transport of MPs among China, Japan, and Mongolia, and the oceanic transport between China and Japan. MPs in atmospheric suspended particulates, fallen dust, seawater and marine sediments, collected from different locations in different seasons and climate events, will be characterized and quantified. Finally, the impact of atmospheric and oceanic currents on MPs transboundary transport flux in East Asia will be assessed. This project will, for the first time, systematically study transboundary transport of MPs considering the impact from both atmospheric and oceanic currents. It will help understand the role of climate change in MPs transboundary transport since climate change affects meteorological factors, which may affect MPs transport fluxes and deposition patterns in both atmosphere and ocean. The findings will provide insightful knowledge of MPs in large-scale transport, and contribute from the science perspective, to the development of control and mitigation policy options.
Project leader
Collaborators
Mr. Hanling Yang, a doctoral student of the research team from Nankai University, China.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the APN scientific research project. Under the leadership of Professor Lei Wang, we have conducted long-term observations on the concentration and deposition flux of atmospheric microplastics in several typical East Asian cities. I believe the results will help to enhance the public’s understanding of the status of atmospheric microplastics pollution in East Asia.
Mr. Yining Xue, a doctoral student of the research team from Nankai University, China.
“I am honored to be involved in this APN project. I never thought that microplastics in the atmosphere could have an impact on the climate. Considering the huge production of plastic products in the world, the concentration of microplastics in the atmosphere is likely to increase over time, and the climate effects caused by them will certainly receive more attention.”
Ms. Yue Zhong, a master student of the research team from Toyama University, Japan.
“Microplastics is a completely new field for me. By participating in the APN project, I collected atmospheric particulates and dust-fall for the first time and learned the pre-treatment process of microplastics, which sparked my interest in studies related to microplastics. I believe this research is important because the distribution of microplastics in the atmosphere of Japan has not been reported before.”
