Antarctica was once known as “the cleanest place on earth. But now, this sacred place is also being polluted. According to The Cryosphere, researchers have found microplastics for the first time in snow samples from Antarctica. paper cup fan raw material

Researchers collected 19 snow samples from various locations along the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica’s largest ice shelf – six samples from near the research station and the remaining 13 from “remote locations with little human footprint”. Each sample was tested for the presence of microplastics.

The finding means that the ecological damage caused by plastic pollution may be accelerating. Scientists have found microplastics in deep-sea sediment, ocean and surface water in Antarctica, but it is the first time they have been found in snow samples. paper cup fan wholesale

Researchers speculate that there are two sources of microplastics in Antarctica’s snow. First, air currents send particles thousands of kilometers away to Antarctica. Second, humans have left a footprint in Antarctica, bringing microplastics with them.

What is microplastic? How will it affect Antarctica?

Plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter are generically referred to as “microplastics”. It is smaller than a grain of rice and cannot be identified by the naked eye. Most of the microplastics found in Antarctica are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), commonly found in beverage bottles and clothing. paper cup raw

Today, microplastics can be found as far up as Mount Everest and as far down as the deep sea. These tiny particles can enter the body through food, drink and air. Studies have detected their presence in human blood and lungs.

Studies have shown that microplastics can cause “extremely serious ecological damage” to Antarctica. The melting of the cryosphere is likely to be accelerated when microplastics are found in the snow and ice of high mountains or polar regions. Microplastics can become ice nuclei in the atmosphere, further affecting the climate. paper cup raw materials manufacturer

In addition to this, the ingestion of microplastics by marine organisms can also negatively affect the entire Antarctic biotic chain.

“Microplastics may have harmful substances attached to their surfaces, such as heavy metals and algae. These substances, which would not have been present in these extremely remote and protected environments, reach Antarctica through the vehicle of microplastics.” raw material paper cup

Therefore, in order to reduce the harm of plastic, reduce the use of plastic products, “paper instead of plastic” is necessary. At present, both domestic and foreign paper and packaging enterprises are exploring the use of paper packaging instead of plastic packaging, and have developed paper straws, pulp molded products, beverage boxes, lunch boxes and other paper-based products to contribute to the global reduction of the use of plastic supplies. pe paper cup fans