Particles of synthetic polymers in fresh snow in the northwest of the Kola peninsula in 2020–2021

Abstract

Pollution of the hydrosphere, the atmosphere and the upper lithosphere by synthetic polymers has now become a global human problem. In this connection, a study of newly fallen solid precipitation was carried out from December 2020 to April 2021 in the north-west of the Kola Peninsula to identify polymeric particles that could be absorbed from the atmosphere by snow crystals. Snow sampling was carried out along highways at a distance from roads in calm weather. In the laboratory, melt snow water was filtered through nuclear filters, which were scanned under a binocular MBS-10 microscope to take account of insoluble polymer fibers. Simultaneously, filters stained with a Nile Red solution were analyzed under a Carl Zeiss AxioImager D1epifluorescent microscope for microplastic investigations. Synthetic polymer particles were identified among the aerosol material. The polymeric particle composition was strongly dominated by irregularly shaped polymer micro-fragments. Polymer macrofibres and polymer microfibers were also constantly present. By the research carried out the first assessment of polymeric particles flows to the earth surface with solid precipitation in the north-west of the Kola Peninsula was done.