how are microplastics getting literally everywhere?

Question

The ocean I unfortunately understand, what with all the plastic we throw in it. But I just read it was in fresh fallen antarctic snow! How?

In: 37

Answer 1

Part 1: Microplastics are microscopic tiny bits. They get blown into the air from…everywhere on land (roads, landfills etc) and then carried around the world in the air by atmospheric air currents.

Part 2: Whenever water is condensing in the air to form clouds, rain, or snow, each drop needs a tiny solid “seed” particle to start the condensation process. Usually it’s a speck of dust or pollen or something. But now that there’s tiny plastic fragments suspended in the air everywhere, rain and snow is condensing on those as well and bringing those plastic bits down to earth inside the raindrops and snowflakes when they fall.