Nanoplastics detected in Antarctica's pristine soils
Scientists have found nanoplastics in the remote soils of Antarctica, raising concerns about the global reach of plastic contamination. The study, led by Lancaster University and published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, detected plastic particles in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, an ice-free region of the continent.
The researchers sampled soils in January 2023 and found plastics including polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and tyre wear particles. Nanoplastics were present in 54% of topsoil sample sites and in deeper soil layers at half of the sites, albeit at lower concentrations.
Advances in detection techniques
The discovery was made possible by a highly sensitive technique called ‘thermal desorption-proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry’, which can detect plastic nanoparticles. The researchers believe the plastics may originate from research stations on Antarctica or be transported long distances through the atmosphere.
Concerns for polar ecosystems
Dr Nhu Phan, lead author and former PhD researcher at Lancaster University, said: "This evidence shows that soils in one of Earth’s most pristine environments are not exempt from plastic contamination. These findings highlight the urgent need to study plastic fate, transport and ecological impacts in polar regions."
The researchers noted that polar ecosystems may be especially vulnerable because invertebrates there have lower metabolism and slower growth, making them less adaptable to chemical stresses.
Professor Crispin Halsall, co-author of the study, added: "Our findings raise concerns regarding the global reach of plastic contamination. At present, it is unclear whether ultrafine nanoplastic particles have arisen through direct long-range atmospheric transport from afar, or through the weathering of larger plastic debris found in marine areas along the Antarctic coastline."
The study underscores the need for strengthened international collaboration to reduce global plastic emissions and stricter waste management practices on the continent. The paper is titled ‘First evidence of nanoplastics in Antarctica soil’.
