A Perspective on the Controversy over Global Emission Fluxes of Microplastics from Ocean into the Atmosphere

Yang, Shanye1,2; Lu, Xiaohui1,3; Wang, Xiaofei1,2,4

2024-06-01

10.1021/acs.est.4c03182

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY   影响因子和分区

0013-936X

1520-5851

Since the transfer of microplastic across the sea-air interface was first reported in 2020, numerous studies have been conducted on its emission flux estimation. However, these studies have shown significant discrepancies in the estimated contribution of oceanic sources to global atmospheric microplastics, with evaluations ranging from predominant to negligible, varying by 4 orders of magnitude from 7.7 x 10(-4) to 8.6 megatons per year, thereby creating considerable confusion in the research on the microplastic cycle. Here, we provide a perspective by applying the well-established theory of particulate transfer through the sea-air interface. The upper limit of global sea-air emission flux microplastics was calculated, aiming to constrain the controversy in the previously reported fluxes. Specifically, the flux of sub-100 mu m microplastic cannot exceed 0.01 megatons per year, and for sub-0.1 mu m nanoplastics, it would not exceed 3 x 10(-7) megatons per year. Bridging this knowledge gap is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the sea-air limb in the "plastic cycle", and facilitates the management of future microplastic pollution.

Microplastic Sea-air Sea spray aerosol Enrichment factor Emission flux

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

National Natural Science Foundation of China["42377090","42077193"] ; National Key RD Program["2022YFC3702600","2022YFC3702601"] ; Shanghai Natural Science Foundation[23ZR1479700] ; Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Coastal Atmosphere and Climate of the Great Bay Area[2021B1212050024]

Engineering ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Engineering, Environmental ; Environmental Sciences

WOS:001258197700001

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

20242716601516

Water Pollution:453 ; Environmental Impact and Protection:454.2 ; Ecology and Ecosystems:454.3

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.Fudan Univ, Dept Environm Sci & Engn, Shanghai Key Lab Atmospher Particle Pollut & Preve, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China
2.Shanghai Inst Pollut Control & Ecol Secur, Shanghai 200092, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Guangdong Prov Observat & Res Stn Coastal Atmosphe, Great Bay Area, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
4.Fudan Zhangjiang Inst, Shanghai 201203, Peoples R China

Yang, Shanye,Lu, Xiaohui,Wang, Xiaofei. A Perspective on the Controversy over Global Emission Fluxes of Microplastics from Ocean into the Atmosphere[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,2024,58:12304-12312.

Yang, Shanye,Lu, Xiaohui,&Wang, Xiaofei.(2024).A Perspective on the Controversy over Global Emission Fluxes of Microplastics from Ocean into the Atmosphere.ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,58,12304-12312.

Yang, Shanye,et al."A Perspective on the Controversy over Global Emission Fluxes of Microplastics from Ocean into the Atmosphere".ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 58(2024):12304-12312.