The global odyssey of plastic pollution

doi:10.1126/science.abc4428

GSTDTAP > 气候变化

DOI	10.1126/science.abc4428
	The global odyssey of plastic pollution
	Chelsea M. Rochman; Timothy Hoellein
	2020-06-12
发表期刊	Science
出版年	2020
英文摘要	Scientists who once studied microplastics (plastic debris <5 mm in size) as ocean pollutants have now detected them in soils, biota, and Earth's atmosphere. To decipher the global fate of microplastics, scientists have begun to ask questions about the “microplastic cycle,” which is akin to global biogeochemical cycles (nitrogen, carbon, and water). For example, what are the sources of microplastics, and how do they transform as they move from one pool (e.g., a beach, inside an organism, or a river bed) to another? And what processes (“fluxes”) transfer microplastics between pools? On page 1257 of this issue, Brahney et al. ([ 1 ][1]) report high-resolution spatial and temporal data that provide evidence of both global and regional microplastic transport, thus increasing our understanding of the microplastic cycle. Nearly a decade ago, scientists began studying marine microplastics in surface currents of the ocean as the key mechanism for global transport. As datasets grew, their understanding of long-range transport within and between oceans expanded to include mechanisms such as deep-sea circulation ([ 2 ][2]), biological transport ([ 3 ][3], [ 4 ][4]), and drifting sea ice ([ 5 ][5]). In parallel, emerging work uncovered pools of microplastics in other Earth compartments, including freshwater and terrestrial systems ([ 6 ][6]), and the atmosphere ([ 7 ][7]). To fully understand the microplastic cycle, researchers must piece together the fluxes that connect the transport and transformation of microplastics as they move between planetary compartments. Atmospheric transport of microplastics in airborne dust, which settles to the ground (deposition) during dry and wet periods and in both urban and remote locations, was initially overlooked. Scientists have understood the global transport of dust for decades, but until recently, dust was not known to carry substantial amounts of microplastics. Seminal work on transport of microplastics in the atmosphere demonstrated their presence in wet (e.g., rain, snow) and dry deposition in Paris, France ([ 8 ][8]), providing proof that microplastics are a component of dust and that atmospheric deposition is a mechanism of transport. Long-range atmospheric transport, away from urban centers, was first demonstrated in 2019, when microplastics were unearthed from a remote mountain catchment ([ 7 ][7]) and in Arctic snow ([ 9 ][9]). These studies prove that microplastics are transported atmospherically to both regional and faraway places. Brahney et al. studied both global and regional transport of microplastics by comparing the size and shape of particles deposited in dry and wet weather (see the figure). The new work elucidates patterns of deposition and processes of atmospheric transport, and predicts that atmospheric transport is an important source of microplastics in remote locations. For example, the authors estimate that more than 122 tons of microplastics are deposited annually to U.S. protected lands of the western United States. By incorporating human population metrics, local weather patterns, and climate models, Brahney et al. found that larger microplastics were deposited during wet events and likely originated from nearby urban centers during regional storms. In contrast, smaller microplastics deposited during dry weather were more likely to have been transported long distances and made up the majority of the microplastic mass. A key insight from the new work is that fundamental tools for studying global dust transport can be applied to microplastics. Like dust, most particles measured were within the size range typical of global transport (<25 µm). However, microplastics are less dense than soil and therefore might travel longer distances than natural dust particles. Future research should test hypotheses about the distances that microplastics can travel atmospherically and the processes that entrain microplastics in the air, such as sea spray and dust storms. The new study also invites questions about latitudinal gradients. Global atmospheric circulation is affected, in part, by air rising at 0° and 60° latitude and sinking at 30° and 90°. Do researchers expect movement of atmospheric microplastics to follow similar patterns? Moreover, scientists know that dust particles are a vector for atmospheric distribution of chemical contaminants and microbes. How do microplastics interfere or aid in such spread? Researchers also must delve deeper into other transport pathways of the microplastic cycle. For example, scientists know little about how microplastics move through terrestrial ecosystems, but evidence suggests percolation from the surface to deeper layers, resuspension into the atmosphere, and transport into ground and surface waters ([ 9 ][9]). In streams, microplastics can be continuously deposited and resuspended, buried in sediments, or exported to downstream ecosystems including lakes, estuaries, and the ocean ([ 10 ][10]). Also, very little is known about how microplastics move through food webs, but some evidence suggests trophic transfer ([ 11 ][11]). Moreover, during their life cycle, microplastics are subject to abiotic and biotic transformations. For example, microbes can incorporate carbon atoms derived from plastic when building their cell membranes ([ 12 ][12]). Microbial breakdown can generate airborne fragments and greenhouse gases, as can degradation (oxidation) by ultraviolet light from the Sun ([ 13 ][13]). ![Figure][14] Microplastic pollution is pervasive Emerging research pinpoints atmospheric deposition as a mode of microplastic transfer to the western United States. Mapping microplastic pools (water, land, organisms) and fluxes (arrows) will guide delineation of the global microplastic cycle. GRAPHIC: N. CARY/ SCIENCE Researchers now recognize that plastic cycles through more than just the ocean. To be sure, the ocean is a sink for micro plastics. But as ecologists learn more about these particles, they realize that the ocean is not always the final fate of microplastics; rather, the ocean is one part of the global plastic cycle. In his essay “Odyssey,” Aldo Leopold poetically describes how biological, chemical, and geological factors shape the journey of atoms “X” and “Y” (representing carbon and nitrogen) among the land, atmosphere, and sea, between biotic and abiotic compartments, and through deep time. Microplastics might display a different arrangement of atoms, but nonetheless, plastic particles in the environment are subject to the same biogeochemical forces as all other matter. As ecologists think about all that encompasses the sources, fates, and transformations of microplastics, Leopold's prose challenges them to envision and measure processes among all ecosystem compartments, including those that strain one's imagination, such as plastic in rain. Future microplastic researchers should follow the example of Brahney et al. and think big about small particles, so as to contribute to our understanding of the global microplastic cycle and how it has become an aspect of global elemental cycles. 1. [↵][15]1. J. Brahney et al ., Science 368, 1257 (2020). [OpenUrl][16][Abstract/FREE Full Text][17] 2. [↵][18]1. I. A. Kane et al ., Science 368, eaba5899 (2020). [OpenUrl][19] 3. [↵][20]1. K. Katija et al ., Sci. Adv. 3, e1700715 (2017). [OpenUrl][21][FREE Full Text][22] 4. [↵][23]1. A. Porter et al ., Environ. Sci. Technol. 52, 7111 (2018). [OpenUrl][24] 5. [↵][25]1. I. Peeken et al ., Nat. Commun. 9, 1505 (2018). [OpenUrl][26] 6. [↵][27]1. A. A. Horton et al ., Sci. Total Environ. 586, 127 (2017). [OpenUrl][28] 7. [↵][29]1. S. Allen et al ., Nat. Geosci. 12, 339 (2019). [OpenUrl][30][CrossRef][31] 8. [↵][32]1. R. Dris et al ., Environ. Chem. Lett. 12, 592 (2015). [OpenUrl][33] 9. [↵][34]1. M. Bergmann et al ., Sci. Adv. 5, eaax1157 (2019). [OpenUrl][35][FREE Full Text][36] 10. [↵][37]1. T. J. Hoellein et al ., Sci. Rep. 9, 3740 (2019). [OpenUrl][38] 11. [↵][39]1. J. F. Provencher et al ., Environ. Rev. 27, 304 (2019). [OpenUrl][40] 12. [↵][41]1. S. J. Taipale et al ., Sci. Rep. 9, 19894 (2019). [OpenUrl][42] 13. [↵][43]1. B. Gewert et al ., Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts 17, 1513 (2015). [OpenUrl][44] Acknowledgments: We thank M. J. Hoffman and D. L. Mahler for comments. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5 [6]: #ref-6 [7]: #ref-7 [8]: #ref-8 [9]: #ref-9 [10]: #ref-10 [11]: #ref-11 [12]: #ref-12 [13]: #ref-13 [14]: pending:yes [15]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [16]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.stitle%253DScience%26rft.aulast%253DBrahney%26rft.auinit1%253DJ.%26rft.volume%253D368%26rft.issue%253D6496%26rft.spage%253D1257%26rft.epage%253D1260%26rft.atitle%253DPlastic%2Brain%2Bin%2Bprotected%2Bareas%2Bof%2Bthe%2BUnited%2BStates%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.aaz5819%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [17]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjEzOiIzNjgvNjQ5Ni8xMjU3IjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjM6Ii9zY2kvMzY4LzY0OTYvMTE4NC5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30= [18]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [19]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.volume%253D368%26rft.spage%253Deaba5899%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [20]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [21]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%2BAdvances%26rft.stitle%253DSci%2BAdv%26rft.aulast%253DKatija%26rft.auinit1%253DK.%26rft.volume%253D3%26rft.issue%253D8%26rft.spage%253De1700715%26rft.epage%253De1700715%26rft.atitle%253DFrom%2Bthe%2Bsurface%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bseafloor%253A%2BHow%2Bgiant%2Blarvaceans%2Btransport%2Bmicroplastics%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bdeep%2Bsea%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fsciadv.1700715%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [22]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6MzoiUERGIjtzOjExOiJqb3VybmFsQ29kZSI7czo4OiJhZHZhbmNlcyI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMjoiMy84L2UxNzAwNzE1IjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjM6Ii9zY2kvMzY4LzY0OTYvMTE4NC5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30= [23]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text" [24]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEnviron.%2BSci.%2BTechnol.%26rft.volume%253D52%26rft.spage%253D7111%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [25]: #xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5 in text" [26]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNat.%2BCommun.%26rft.volume%253D9%26rft.spage%253D1505%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [27]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text" [28]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DSci.%2BTotal%2BEnviron.%26rft.volume%253D586%26rft.spage%253D127%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [29]: #xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7 in text" [30]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNat.%2BGeosci.%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.spage%253D339%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252Fs41561-019-0335-5%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [31]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/s41561-019-0335-5&link_type=DOI [32]: #xref-ref-8-1 "View reference 8 in text" [33]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEnviron.%2BChem.%2BLett.%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.spage%253D592%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [34]: #xref-ref-9-1 "View reference 9 in text" [35]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%2BAdvances%26rft.stitle%253DSci%2BAdv%26rft.aulast%253DBergmann%26rft.auinit1%253DM.%26rft.volume%253D5%26rft.issue%253D8%26rft.spage%253Deaax1157%26rft.epage%253Deaax1157%26rft.atitle%253DWhite%2Band%2Bwonderful%253F%2BMicroplastics%2Bprevail%2Bin%2Bsnow%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BAlps%2Bto%2Bthe%2BArctic%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fsciadv.aax1157%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F31453336%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [36]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6MzoiUERGIjtzOjExOiJqb3VybmFsQ29kZSI7czo4OiJhZHZhbmNlcyI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMjoiNS84L2VhYXgxMTU3IjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjM6Ii9zY2kvMzY4LzY0OTYvMTE4NC5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30= [37]: #xref-ref-10-1 "View reference 10 in text" [38]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DSci.%2BRep.%26rft.volume%253D9%26rft.spage%253D3740%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [39]: #xref-ref-11-1 "View reference 11 in text" [40]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEnviron.%2BRev.%26rft.volume%253D27%26rft.spage%253D304%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [41]: #xref-ref-12-1 "View reference 12 in text" [42]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DSci.%2BRep.%26rft.volume%253D9%26rft.spage%253D19894%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [43]: #xref-ref-13-1 "View reference 13 in text" [44]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEnviron.%2BSci.%2BProcess.%2BImpacts%26rft.volume%253D17%26rft.spage%253D1513%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx
领域	气候变化 ; 资源环境
URL	查看原文
引用统计
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/274458
专题	气候变化资源环境科学
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Chelsea M. Rochman,Timothy Hoellein. The global odyssey of plastic pollution[J]. Science,2020.
APA	Chelsea M. Rochman,&Timothy Hoellein.(2020).The global odyssey of plastic pollution.Science.
MLA	Chelsea M. Rochman,et al."The global odyssey of plastic pollution".Science (2020).