Why Care for Plastics in Polar Regions?

In these days, the term “microplastics” is already inflationary. There is literally no escape from media reporting: we are nearly daily confronted with the fact that our oceans suffer from massive loads of plastic litter which is mirrored by worrisome pictures of plastic islands and sea life entangled in fishing nets. But have you ever wondered where these pollutants ultimately end up? Are polar areas still those emblematic pristine environments?
Well, sadly, they are not.

Very little is known about plastic pollution in terrestrial cryospheric environments. Why is that the case? Is it the difficulty of logistics to conduct this type of research? Or is it simply the self-conception that the cryosphere is expected to be untouched by anthropogenic traces due to the immense distance to human settlements? Anything being released by us humans enters the global cycle of atmospheric or terrestrial distribution and hence, will be found in the most distant areas, having a clear ecological consequence. There is a clear knowledge gap for this geographic area, which needs to be closed.

Well, so it seems. And there is a lot of truth in it when considering the rocket-like start of plastic in daily life. Suddenly materials got lighter, unbreakable, softer, more colourful, more UV resistant, cheaper – in theory all favourable qualities. Who would not want that? Since the 1950s, plastic production has been exponential, and more than half of all plastics ever produced has been made since 2000. However, as simple as it is: what comes in must get out. Consequently, plastics discarded in the environment gradually break down into microplastics (< 5 mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 mm) due to harsh environmental conditions. These tiny particles disperse easily, entering the hydrological cycle and even travelling through the air, ultimately reaching the most remote areas. Once being incorporated into a living organism it may trigger chronical infections, respiratory problems or can produce even antibiotic resistances in microbes. Microplastic particles are even capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, potentially causing irreversible damage.

In the past 2 years we undertook field trips to the Alps, the Arctic (Svalbard) and the Antarctic to investigate microplastic pollution. It is quite tricky to work plastic free to avoid self-contamination. Just consider functional clothing for the cold – it is mostly based on plastics. Hence, we dress accordingly in a cotton overall, avoid any plastic devices as well as filtration inside a tent (tents are massive sources for “plastic snow”). So, we huddled up behind a rock to protect ourselves from heavy winds while filtering melted snow, ice and water onto metal meshes to be brought back for evaluation. Sometimes it was a true overcoming to follow these “lab” protocols (even without a lab).
On our expeditions we have found microplastics in even the most remote places. Antarctica is still a black box which waits for its evaluation of samples. The sources for the contaminants are local or diffuse by long range (atmospheric) transport. It still needs to be proofed in the upcoming analysis if tyre abrasion would be the main source as it is generally the case.
We all brag with our pristine and clear waters. It´s not so fantastic anymore to hear the plastic burden in a litre of well water which makes us part of the global plastic cycle.

We might blame others quickly for littering in pristine and vulnerable areas. Especially when we watch tourists oozing out from cruise ships with maybe a lack of environmental understanding or too little briefing. But results from polar areas often show that scientists are a major source for local plastic pollution. Which brings us in a bizarre situation: we came to reveal but concomitantly add to the problem. We must be aware of this to be able to raise the general awareness that anything we set free in our industrialized world will eventually boomerang back to our doorsteps. And the more we speak about it, involve the general public and the younger generation the better are the chances for a reduction of plastic littering in our environment. Be sure: nothing is unseen – it will eventually sit again at our doorstep (and our dinner plates).