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Microscopic Plastic Fibers Rain From The Sky In Rocky Mountains

"Plastic was the furthest thing from Gregory Wetherbee’s mind when he began analyzing rainwater samples collected from the Rocky Mountains. “I guess I expected to see mostly soil and mineral particles,” said the US Geological Survey researcher. Instead, he found multicolored microscopic plastic fibers.

The discovery, published in a recent study (pdf) titled “It is raining plastic”, raises new questions about the amount of plastic waste permeating the air, water, and soil virtually everywhere on Earth.

“I think the most important result that we can share with the American public is that there’s more plastic out there than meets the eye,” said Wetherbee. “It’s in the rain, it’s in the snow. It’s a part of our environment now.”"

Maanvi Singh reports for the Guardian August 13, 2019.

SEE ALSO:

"'Punch in the Gut' As Scientists Find Micro Plastic In Arctic Ice" (Reuters)

Source: Guardian, 08/15/2019