Researchers issue warning after discovering ‘invisible’ threat to coastal cities: ‘This rewrites the script’
A. to work He found that microplastics in the ocean accumulate on land during typhoons.
What’s going on?
In the research published in the journal Environmental Science and TechnologyExperts sought to discover how tropical storms, including typhoons, hurricanes and tornadoes, affect plastic pollution in the oceans.
They found that microplastic accumulation levels increased as typhoons approached land and decreased as they passed.
“The data showed a clear, temporary pollution pulse produced by the storm itself,” said researcher Taiseer Hussain Nafea. Phys.org.
Using the chemical composition and direction of the storms, the researchers were able to confirm a link showing microplastics drifting from the ocean.
“Storms were actively transferring ocean-derived microplastics into the atmosphere and depositing them on land,” Nafea said. he said.
Why is this study alarming?
“This discovery reveals a direct, physical connection between two of our greatest environmental crises, plastic pollution and climate change, suggesting that they are now fueling each other,” Nafea wrote.
Accordingly ReutersEvidence shows that typhoons are increasing in intensity due to increased intensity. global temperatures linked to human activities.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that typhoons “put millions of people at risk.” high winds and flooding.
This study shows even greater danger for those living in areas affected by typhoons.
“For coastal cities, this rewrites the typhoon risk scenario,” Nafea wrote. “Beyond wind and water, storms now bring with them a cloud of invisible, breathable plastic.”
microplastics They are tiny plastic particles found all over the planet. oceans to every human body.
More research is needed to understand the effects of microplastics on humans and the environment, but research suggests they may be linked to liver problems and neurological problems, among others health conditions.
What can be done about microplastics?
“Cleaning plastic from coasts and rivers is no longer just an environmental action, it is a critical step in climate adaptation and public health advocacy,” Nafea said. “It’s about neutralizing the storms of the future.”
There are an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic in the world’s oceans. World Economic Forumemphasizing the need to use less plastic.
Some groups e.g. Ocean Cleanup and the Ocean Legacy Foundation is committed to cleaning up plastic in the oceans to help reduce the amount of plastic that threatens marine life and can wash back onto land as microplastics during typhoons.
Meanwhile, one study found a way to remove microplastics from drinking water, while another report found that probiotics may help combat toxins found in microplastics.
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