The harm of microplastics may affect the climate in the future

[ Focus on Chemical Machinery Equipment Network ] In recent years, the harm of microplastics to the human body has been known to the public
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Microplastics usually refer to a mixture of non-uniform plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm, which is often difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, and is vividly called "PM2.
5 in the sea"
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Compared with "white pollution" plastics, the harm of microplastics is reflected in their small particle diameters.
Smaller volume means higher specific surface area (specific surface area refers to the surface area per unit mass of a porous solid substance).
The larger the specific surface area, The greater the capacity of adsorbed pollutants
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Microplastics are very easy to accumulate with a large number of persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs and bisphenol A in the environment to form an organic pollution sphere
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At the same time, because it is too small, microplastics are very difficult to detect and filter, and they will be passively eaten by plants and humans without knowing it
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In August 2020, a study published by Nature Communications stated that there are approximately 12 to 21 million tons of microplastics 200 meters below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean
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In order to prevent and control microplastic pollution, all countries have adopted corresponding preventive measures and monitoring methods
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Among them, China officially launched marine garbage monitoring in 2007, and included marine microplastics in the monitoring scope in 2016
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In July 2020, the nine ministries and commissions jointly issued the "Notice on Solid Promotion of Plastic Pollution Control", requiring solid progress in plastic pollution control, which is commonly known as the "plastic ban"
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　　However, it has always been thought that our awareness of the hazards of microplastics is basically focused on the ocean and bioaccumulation, but has neglected the existence of microplastics in the air and its impact on the environment
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　　Recently, a paper revealed another aspect of the harm of microplastics
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An environmental model study published on the 20th of this month in the British "Nature" magazine believes that atmospheric microplastics may have a slight cooling effect on the climate by reflecting sunlight, but because plastics continue to accumulate in the earth's environment, they may show up in the future.
Stronger climate effect
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These findings are the result of calculations for the first time on the direct global climate impact of atmospheric microplastics
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　　A research team including Laura River, a scientist at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and his colleagues, used climate modeling to determine the radiation effects of common atmospheric microplastics
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Through the research results, it is found that the microplastics in the atmosphere mainly scatter solar radiation at the bottom of the atmosphere, indicating that these microplastics may have a slight cooling effect on the ground climate
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However, the research team also pointed out that the current data is still insufficient, and the exact scale of this effect is still uncertain
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They also found that according to different hypotheses, the warming effect of microplastics will offset many of the cooling effects
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　　Researchers say that the amount of plastic accumulated in landfills and the environment will double in the next 30 years
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If no measures are taken to deal with the pollution of microplastics, the impact of microplastics on the climate will further increase
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　　Original title: The hazards of microplastics may affect the climate in the future